daily report thursday, 11 march 2021 contents

Daily Report Thursday, 11 March 2021

This report shows written answers and statements provided on 11 March 2021 and the

information is correct at the time of publication (07:02 P.M., 11 March 2021). For the latest

information on written questions and answers, ministerial corrections, and written statements,

please visit: http://www.parliament.uk/writtenanswers/

CONTENTS

ANSWERS 6

BUSINESS, ENERGY AND

INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY 6

Additional Restrictions Grant

and Wholesale Trade 6

Chemicals: Exports 6

Coronavirus: Retail Trade 7

Coronavirus: Vaccination 8

Employment: Coronavirus 8

Investment Security Unit 9

Re-employment 9

Small Business Grants Fund 9

Uber: Conditions of

Employment 10

Wind Power: Seas and

Oceans 11

CABINET OFFICE 11

Civil Servants: Location 11

Coronavirus: Disease Control 12

Elections: Proof of Identity 12

Holyhead Port: Freight 12

Passengers: Coronavirus 13

Uk Internal Trade: Northern

Ireland 13

UK Trade with EU 14

UK Trade with EU: Advertising 14

UK Trade with EU:

Departmental Responsibilities 15

UK Trade with EU: Wales 15

UK-EU Partnership Council

and UK-EU Trade and

Cooperation Agreement 16

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS 16

Church of England:

Greenhouse Gas Emissions 16

Church of England: Land 17

Religious Freedom 17

Remote Education 18

COP26 18

UN Climate Conference 2021 :

Expenditure 18

Woodhouse Colliery 19

DEFENCE 19

Armed Forces: Officers 19

Armed Forces: Pay 19

BAe 146 Aircraft 20

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft:

Procurement 20

Military Bases: Catterick 20

Military Bases: Northern

Ireland 21

Voyager Aircraft 21

http://www.parliament.uk/writtenanswers

http://www.parliament.uk/writtenanswers

DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND

SPORT 22

British Board of Film

Classification 22

Football Association Premier

League: Coronavirus 22

Post Codes: Databases 23

Sports: Coronavirus 23

Video on Demand 23

EDUCATION 24

Assessments: Coronavirus 24

Children's Centres: Closures 25

Education: Coronavirus 26

Educational Visits:

Coronavirus 27

National Tutoring Programme 27

North West Association of

Primary Headteachers 28

Private Tutors: Vetting 28

Pupils: Coronavirus 29

Remote Education: ICT 30

Schools: Databases 30

Special Educational Needs:

Autism 31

Special Educational Needs:

Coronavirus 32

Students: Coronavirus 33

Teachers: Coronavirus 34

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND

RURAL AFFAIRS 35

Agriculture: Subsidies 35

Dogs: Imports and Sales 36

Hedgehogs: Conservation 37

Horse Racing: Animal Welfare 37

Horses: Equine Herpes Virus 39

Plastics: Biodegradability 39

Potatoes: UK Trade with EU 40

Water: Consumption 41

FOREIGN, COMMONWEALTH

AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE 41

Anoosheh Ashoori 41

China: Diplomatic Service and

Embassies 41


Jamal Khashoggi 42

Jerusalem: Internally

Displaced People 43

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE 43

Autism and Learning Disability 43

Coronavirus: Contact Tracing 44


Coronavirus: Health

Professions 45

Coronavirus: Learning

Disability 45

Coronavirus: Mental Health

Services 46

Coronavirus: Screening 46


Department of Health and

Social Care: Written Questions 54

Eating Disorders: Children and

Young People 55

Epilepsy: Pregnancy 55

Hospital Beds 57

Hospitals: Coronavirus 57

Hospitals: Fire Prevention 57

Independent Medicines and

Medical Devices Safety

Review 58

Infected Blood Inquiry 58

IQVIA: Redundancy 59

Laboratories: Contracts 59

Learning Disability: General

Practitioners 59

Leeds Teaching Hospitals

NHS Trust 59

Lymphoedema: Medical

Treatments 60

Members: Correspondence 60

Mental Health Services:

Coronavirus 60

Mental Health Services:

Finance 61

Mental Health: Discrimination 61

NHS Test and Trace 61

Parents: Coronavirus 61

Randox Laboratories:

Coronavirus 62

Schools: Coronavirus 62

Social Services: Finance 62

Surgical Mesh Implants 62

Travel: Quarantine 63

Youth Services: Mental Health

Services 65

HOME OFFICE 65

Biometrics: Bristol 65

Hate Crime 66

Home Office: Public

Expenditure 66


Refugees: Resettlement 67

HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND

LOCAL GOVERNMENT 67

Buildings: Insulation 67

Funerals: Judaism 68

Help to Buy Scheme: Females 68

Housing Infrastructure Fund 69

Levelling Up Fund 69

Levelling Up Fund: Finance 69

Local Plans 70


Towns Fund and UK

Community Renewal Fund 71

UK Community Renewal Fund 72

JUSTICE 72

Magistrates: Retirement 72

Prison Officers: Pay 73

Prisons: Visits 75

NORTHERN IRELAND 75

Free Zones: Northern Ireland 75

Terrorism: Northern Ireland 76

PARLIAMENTARY WORKS

SPONSOR BODY 76

Palace of Westminster:

Repairs and Maintenance 76

TRANSPORT 77

Aviation: Climate Change 77

Aviation: Coronavirus 78

Cycling and Walking: Urban

Areas 78

Department for Transport: Civil

Servants 78

Department for Transport:

North of England 79

Driver and Vehicle Licensing

Agency: Remote Working 80

Driving Licences: Reciprocal

Arrangements 80

Ferries: Coronavirus 80

Global Travel Taskforce 81

High Speed 2 Railway Line 81

High Speed 2 Railway Line:

Noise 82

High Speed 2 Railway Line:

South Northamptonshire 82

Motor Vehicles: Excise Duties 83

Public Transport 84

Railway Network: Carbon

Emissions 84

Railway Stations: Access 85

Railway Stations: Pedestrian

Areas 85

Railways: Coronavirus 86

Railways: Fares 86

Railways: North Wales 86

Travel: Coronavirus 87

TREASURY 87

Beer: Excise Duties 87

Broadband: Capital Investment 88

Coronavirus Job Retention

Scheme: Ethnic Groups 88


Events Industry: Coronavirus 89

Football: Unpaid Taxes 90

Free Zones 90

Freeport Governance Body:

Public Appointments 91

Hire Services: UK Trade with

EU 91


Mortgages: Northern Ireland 92

National Infrastructure Bank

and Treasury: Civil Servants 93

Pensions: Age 93

Protective Clothing: VAT 94

SME Brexit Support Fund 94

Thalidomide 95

Transport: Environment

Protection 95

WOMEN AND EQUALITIES 96

Gender Equality Advisory

Council 96

WORK AND PENSIONS 97

Carer's Allowance:

Overpayments 97

Children: Maintenance 98

Covid Winter Grant Scheme 98

Department for Work and

Pensions: Social Security

Benefits 98

Disability: Coronavirus 99

Health and Safety Executive:

Disclosure of Information 99

Health and Safety Executive:

Inspections 99

Housing Benefit: Social

Rented Housing 101

Kickstart Scheme:

Employment 101

Local Housing Allowance:

Homelessness and Poverty 101

Local Restrictions Support

Grant: Social Security Benefits 102

Maternity Pay 102

Pneumoconiosis:

Compensation 103

Poverty: Coronavirus 103

State Retirement Pensions:

Underpayments 104

Surgical Mesh Implants 104

WRITTEN STATEMENTS 105

CABINET OFFICE 105

Border Controls 105

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE 106

Independent Investigation into

East Kent Maternity Services

Trust Terms of Reference 106

HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND

LOCAL GOVERNMENT 107

Building Safety Monthly

Update 107

Commercial Property Update 108

Residential Property Update 110

PARLIAMENTARY WORKS

SPONSOR BODY 112

Strategic Review of the

Restoration and Renewal

Programme: publication 112

Notes:

Questions marked thus [R] indicate that a relevant interest has been declared.

Questions with identification numbers of 900000 or greater indicate that the question was originally tabled as an

oral question and has since been unstarred.

ANSWERS

BUSINESS, ENERGY AND INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY

Additional Restrictions Grant and Wholesale Trade

Dr Julian Lewis: [164332]

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent

assessment he has made of the consistency with which different local authorities award

Additional Restrictions Grants to similar companies; and if he will make it his policy to

issue guidance to local authorities to give comparable levels of such support to food and

drink wholesalers facing comparable financial pressures during the covid-19 outbreak.

Paul Scully:

The Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) allows Local Authorities to put in place

discretionary business support. Local Authorities are free to provide support that suits

their local area, including to support those businesses not required to close but which

have had their trade severely affected by the restrictions, and those businesses that

fall outside the business rates system such as market traders. At the Budget on 3rd

March, my Rt. Hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer announced an additional

£425 million will be made available via the ARG, meaning that more than £2 billion

has been made available to Local Authorities since November 2020. The further top-

up of 3rd March is conditional on Local Authorities spending their existing allocations.

Officials continue to engage with Local Authorities to ensure compliance to both the

scheme rules and wider reporting requirements.

Chemicals: Exports

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: [164585]

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will

publish the (a) minutes and (b) list of attendees of the Chemicals EU Exit Trade Group on

15 February 2021; and what steps his Department is taking in response to the issues

raised by stakeholders at that meeting.

Nadhim Zahawi:

Minutes from the Chemicals EU Exit (and Trade) Group (CEEG) are not routinely

published.

The attendees at the last CEEG held on the 15 th February 2021 were:

Ministerial

• Kwasi Kwarteng MP, Secretary of State for BEIS

• Lord Callanan, Lords Parliamentary Under Secretary, BEIS [Co-Chair]

• Rebecca Pow MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Defra

• Mims Davies MP, Minister for Employment, DWP

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2021-03-08/164332


Industry

• Calum MacLean – CEO & Group Director, Synthomer [Industry Co-Chair]

• Steve Elliott – CEO, Chemical Industries Association (CIA)

• Tom Bowtell – CEO, British Coatings Federation (BCF)

• Adrian Hanrahan – Managing Director, Robinson Brothers

• Jane Toogood – Sector Chief Executive, Johnson Matthey (JM)

Officials

• Neil Johnson, BEIS, Director, Infrastructure and Materials

• Chris Hobley, BEIS, Director, Trade and Investment Negotiations

• Jo Bray, BEIS, Deputy Director, Chemicals, Bioeconomy & Plastics

• Sally Randall, DEFRA, Director, Environmental Quality

• Gabrielle Edwards, DEFRA, Deputy Director, Chemicals, Pesticides and

Hazardous Waste

• Dr Richard Daniels, HSE, Divisional Director Chemicals Regulation Division

• Harjinder Kang, DIT, Director, Healthcare, Life Sciences & Bioeconomy

• Supporting officials from BEIS, DEFRA, HSE and DIT

BEIS continues to work closely with industry to understand how it is adapting to the

terms of the UK/EU Trade & Cooperation Agreement, and to understand its priorities

for new trade deals. Government is also engaging closely with all interested parties

on the issues which industry has raised about the impacts of the new regulatory

requirements associated with the implementation of UK REACH. In doing so we will

take account of the benefits and risks of making any changes to the arrangements

that are in place now, including the impact it would have in our commitment to

maintaining high standards of protection for public health and the environment. We

will also consider the impact on our international obligations.

Coronavirus: Retail Trade

Zarah Sultana: [164641]

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what

assessment he has made of the potential merits of allowing access to specialist shoe

shops during the covid-19 lockdown restrictions for people who cannot buy those

products online.

Paul Scully:

The Government has set out its roadmap to cautiously ease lockdown restrictions,

including the reopening of non-essential retail no earlier than 12 April, subject to the

data.

Under current restrictions all shops in England are permitted to operate click-and-

collect services online, by telephone/text or via post.


Coronavirus: Vaccination

Chi Onwurah: [164467]

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what work

Admiral Associates has undertaken with the Vaccine Taskforce on helping to ensure that

covid-19 vaccines are taken up by hard to reach groups.

Nadhim Zahawi:

Early in the existence of the Vaccine Taskforce, public communication on vaccines

was identified as a key challenge for the successful delivery of COVID-19 vaccines.

The Government strengthened its communication function to support this significant

undertaking and communication specialists sourced by Admiral (with experience in

clinical trials and of working with the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR))

were brought onboard using the Public Sector Resourcing framework.

The communication specialists sourced by Admiral worked with the NIHR to develop

the world’s first national citizen registry so that individuals could sign up to participate

in clinical vaccine trials. As a result, over 454,000 people have signed up to date.

Admiral was also involved in creating a proactive communications programme aimed

at encouraging greater sign-up to the registry through the “COVID-19: the search for

a vaccine” podcast. This provided a factual transparent source of information on

vaccines for UK citizens, combating the anti-vaccination movement, and highlighting

the UK's role as a leader in vaccine research and development. The podcast included

an episode that specifically covered the need to include people from the Black, Asian

and ethnic minority communities in trials and addressed some of the concerns within

these communities.

Employment: Coronavirus

Alex Norris: [164609]

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference

to the Government's Covid-19 Response: Spring 2021 document, published in February

2021, CP 398, whether office workers and corporate building occupiers are permitted to

return to covid-secure physical workspaces under the terms of Step 3 of the roadmap set

out in that document.

Paul Scully:

People should currently continue to only travel to work if it is not reasonable for them

to work from home. On 29 March, the Stay at Home message will be removed.

However, people should continue to work from home where they can. We have

published COVID-Secure guidance which sets out the steps that businesses should

take to keep their staff and customers safe, if they are permitted to open. The

Government will update COVID-Secure guidance to provide further advice on how

businesses can improve fresh air flow in indoor workplaces and introduce regular

testing.



Investment Security Unit

Dr Julian Lewis: [R] [164331]

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, by what

means Parliamentary scrutiny will be carried out of the classified aspects of the work of

his Department’s proposed Investment Security Unit.

Paul Scully:

The Government intends to follow the appropriate procedures for reporting to

Parliament on the work of the Investment Security Unit (ISU), by having the

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Select Committee

oversee the Investment Security Unit’s work. The Committee already provides

scrutiny on a number of sensitive areas, such as the civil nuclear programme, and it

is well placed to consider how effectively and efficiently the Investment Security Unit

is interacting with the business community and investors in delivering the National

Security and Investment regime.

Re-employment

Navendu Mishra: [164672]

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the

outcome was of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service’s investigation into fire

and rehire.

Paul Scully:

The Department engaged Acas to gather evidence of how fire and rehire is being

used.

Acas engaged with a range of groups, including employer bodies and trade unions,

as well as professional bodies with advisory contact with employers, such as

employment lawyers, accountants, and payroll services.

Officials are currently considering these findings, and the Government will respond in

due course.

Small Business Grants Fund


To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans

there are to process applications and payments of Small Business Grants delayed where

decisions from the Valuation Office Agency were still outstanding at 30 October 2020.

Paul Scully:

The Government has put forward an unprecedented package of support for

businesses to help with ongoing business costs in recognition of the disruption

caused by Covid-19. This included the Small Business Grants Fund (SBGF), the

Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grants Fund (RHLGF) and the Local Authority

Discretionary Grants Fund (LADGF).




We asked Local Authorities to close the SBGF, RHLGF and LADGF schemes by 28

August 2020, and to ensure that, where any payments were still in process, they

were completed by 30 September. The only exceptions were those relating to a VOA

/ Ombudsman query in which case payments could be made until 30 October. The

schemes are now closed.

Local Authorities have also been provided with further funding via the Additional

Restrictions Grant (ARG). The ARG is a discretionary scheme which is formula

based. Eligibility for the ARG is set locally, and guidance makes clear that Local

Authorities may use this funding for grants or for other related business support as

they see fit.

Uber: Conditions of Employment

Grahame Morris: [164414]

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to

the oral contribution of the Minister for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy of 24

February 2021, Official report, col 939, which stakeholders ACAS conducted its fact-

finding exercise with.




February 2021, Official report, col 939, on what date ACAS shared its insights with his

Department.




February 2021, Official report, col 939, when he plans to communicate his Department’s

response to the findings by ACAS.



the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Business, Energy and

Industrial Strategy of 24 February 2021, Official Report, column 939 on the Supreme

Court’s ruling on Uber, if he will place in the Library a copy of the Advisory, Conciliation

and Arbitration Service's report to his Department on fire and rehire.

Paul Scully:

Acas engaged with a range of groups, including employer bodies and trade unions,

as well as professional bodies with advisory contact with employers, such as

employment lawyers, accountants, and payroll services. They shared their findings

with BEIS officials on 17 February 2021.

Officials are currently considering these findings, and the Government will respond in

due course.





Wind Power: Seas and Oceans

Alex Cunningham: [164456]

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what

assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the bidding process used by Crown

Estate to lease seabed development rights for offshore (a) wind and (b) other renewable

energy projects on the UKCS.


To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what advice

his Department and its predecessor departments have provided to the Crown Estate on

the design of the bidding process used in the Round 4 auction of seabed leasing rights,

since the conclusion of Round 3 in 2010.


To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what advice

(a) his Department and (b) predecessor Departments have provided to Crown Estate on

the design of the bidding process used in the Round 4 auction of seabed leasing rights

since the conclusion of Round 3 in 2010.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan:

As manager of the seabed around England, Wales and Northern Ireland, The Crown

Estate is responsible for the award of leases for new and existing offshore wind

projects, including the current Round 4 exercise. The Crown Estate works

independently of government under the mandate set out in the Crown Estate Act

1961. The Government has not made any assessment on the effectiveness of the

bidding process used by Crown Estate to lease seabed development rights for

offshore (a) wind and (b) other renewable energy projects on the UKCS. The latest

Round 4 seabed leasing round has resulted in six new potential offshore wind

projects totalling nearly 8GW.

BEIS was not involved in the design of the bidding process for the Round 4 seabed

leasing.

CABINET OFFICE

Civil Servants: Location

Dan Jarvis: [164484]

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, with

reference to the announcement made in Budget 2021 on civil service relocation, what

additional plans the Government has to relocate more civil servants outside of London;

and when he plans to publish details of those proposed relocations.

Julia Lopez:

The Government has committed to ensuring that the administration of Government is

less Whitehall-centric with 22,000 civil service roles relocating to the regions and





nations of the UK by the end of the decade. As you are aware, HMT and MHCLG

both announced their relocation plans in the last few weeks. The Places for Growth

programme is working with departments on their relocation plans to ensure a broad

geography of the UK is benefiting from this agenda. Further announcements will be

made in due course.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

Sir Mike Penning: [154862]

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what

assessment he has made of the importance of ensuring that expert advice is publicly

accountable; and what steps he is taking to ensure that SAGE and its sub-committees

can be held accountable to Members of Parliament.

Sir Mike Penning: [164394]


assessment he has made of the extent to which expert advice provided to Government is

directly accountable to Parliament; whether he plans to ensure that SAGE and its sub-

committees are directly accountable to Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

Penny Mordaunt:

The Government is committed to sharing information and data that informs decision-

making. The minutes of SAGE meetings and the evidence considered by SAGE are

routinely published on GOV.UK.

Elections: Proof of Identity

Cat Smith: [164520]

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, with

reference to the Government's Voter ID plans, how voters will be asked to prove their

identity to local authorities when applying for their free local elector ID.

Chloe Smith:

Local authorities will be responsible for issuing local elector identity documents.

We will continue to work with local authorities, the Electoral Commission, charities

and civil society organisations to make sure that reforms, including the provision of a

local elector identity document, are delivered in a way that is inclusive for all voters.

Further details will be set out in due course.

Holyhead Port: Freight

Virginia Crosbie: [163328]


steps he has taken to facilitate freight traffic through Holyhead Port since 1 January 2021.





Penny Mordaunt:

HMG worked with Welsh Government and local stakeholders to share planning

assumptions about potential disruption ahead of the end of the Transition Period and

put in place contingency plans, including to manage potential traffic disruption at

Holyhead. As there has not been significant traffic disruption to the port, additional

facilitative steps have not been needed.

We recognise the need to provide as much support to traders, ports and hauliers as

possible. The Government has introduced a range of measures to help the industry

meet new export requirements, including training, webinars and extensive guidance

on GOV.UK. We are increasing our communication and engagement efforts to

ensure that traders are confident using Welsh routes.

Passengers: Coronavirus

Charlotte Nichols: [139163]

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office,

whether he plans to introduce mandatory quarantine at hotels to reduce the spread of

covid-19 by people arriving from outside the UK.

Sarah Owen: [141614]


discussions his Department has had with hotel companies on the potential procurement

of hotel rooms for the purpose of a New Zealand-style managed isolation and quarantine

facility at the border during the covid-19 outbreak.

Penny Mordaunt:

As we have said throughout the pandemic, we keep our measures under constant

review.

The Department of Health and Social Care confirmed that from 15 February anyone

travelling to the UK from a country on the UK’s travel ban list will be required to

quarantine in a government-approved facility for a period of 10 days. Full guidance

for England is here:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/booking-and-staying-in-a-quarantine-hotel-when-you-

arrive-in-england

These actions provide further layers of protection to manage the risk of imported

infections and protect our NHS while national lockdown and vaccinations take effect.

Uk Internal Trade: Northern Ireland

Mr Gregory Campbell: [156273]


whether the Border Delivery Group made an assessment of matters arising from the

implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol at its most recent meeting.



https://www.gov.uk/guidance/booking-and-staying-in-a-quarantine-hotel-when-you-arrive-in-england




Penny Mordaunt:

The Border and Protocol Delivery Group is an organisational unit within the Cabinet

Office, not a standing body. The UK Government has made clear, though, that there

are outstanding issues that must be addressed as to the operation of the Protocol to

restore confidence among the people of Northern Ireland following the EU’s

invocation of Article 16 on 29 January. The Joint Committee meeting on 24 February

underlined the importance of dealing with these issues and of continuing to engage

with businesses and other stakeholders as they proceed.

UK Trade with EU

Rachel Reeves: [160632]

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, how

much has been spent engaging with UK businesses on how they adapt to the new UK-

EU trading relationship since the end of the transition period.

Penny Mordaunt:

Ministers across government have been speaking directly to hundreds of businesses

across the country, including through the Business Brexit Task Force, to develop a

shared vision and plan for the future. Such engagement has been integral to support

businesses in adapting to our new trading relationship with the EU and to continue to

successfully compete on the global stage.

The Cabinet Office is consistently tracking and reviewing spend on the UK Transition

campaign to ensure our communications to businesses and citizens are efficient. The

Cabinet Office is committed to scrutiny and transparency. Details of spend of over

£500, including on public information campaigns, are published on a rolling basis on

gov.uk - https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/cabinet-office-spend-data.

UK Trade with EU: Advertising


To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, how

much has been spent on adverts on news websites promoting the success of UK

businesses in adapting to the new trading arrangements with the EU.

Penny Mordaunt:

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to PQ 33512.

The cross-government Transition communication campaign is guiding and supporting

businesses and citizens to adapt to new arrangements since the end of the Transition

Period. The campaign has used national advertising including TV, SMS, Radio,

Press, Print, Digital and outdoor advertising across owned, earned and paid for

channels.

The Cabinet Office is consistently tracking and reviewing spend on the Transition

campaign to ensure our communications are efficient. Campaign spend is

proportionate to ensure UK businesses and consumers know what they need to do to

make sure they adapt and thrive under the new rules.


https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/cabinet-office-spend-data



Details of spend over £500, including on public information campaigns, is published

on a monthly basis on gov.uk - https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/cabinet-

office-spend-data.

UK Trade with EU: Departmental Responsibilities

Angus Brendan MacNeil: [157041]


which Government department has responsibility for (a) oversight of and (b) answering

questions on matters relating to trade between the UK and the EU; and if he will make a

statement.

Penny Mordaunt:

Lord Frost, Minister of State in the Cabinet Office, has Ministerial responsibility for the

overall relationship between the UK and the EU, including the core elements of the

trade relationship. Within this framework, relevant departments have responsibility for

implementing the Trade and Cooperation Agreement in their policy areas.

UK Trade with EU: Wales

Ben Lake: [160770]


support his Department has provided companies in Wales with regard to the disruption to

the flow of essential products between the EU and the UK since 1 January 2021.

Ben Lake: [160771]


estimate his Department has made of the number of business that have relocated outside

Wales since January 2021 due to problems with the flow of essential supplies between

the EU and UK.

Penny Mordaunt:

The Government maintains efforts to support businesses to adapt to the new trading

environment. There are a number of online tools available to support businesses,

such as the Brexit checker tool and HMRC’s Brexit transition communications

resources, and helplines for those who wish to speak to someone. The Government

are regularly speaking with businesses and trade representative organisations at the

Brexit Business Taskforce in order to hear businesses’ feedback, work through

particular issues and discuss what further steps the government may be able to take

to help businesses adapt and to thrive.

The Cabinet Office does not hold information on the number of businesses, if any,

that have relocated outside of Wales.







UK-EU Partnership Council and UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement

Hilary Benn: [154770]


which Minister will answer in the House on matters relating to the operation of the UK-EU

Trade and Cooperation Agreement and the EU-UK Partnership Council.



whether (a) the Trade Partnership Council and (b) any of its 16 sub-committees have met

to date.

Penny Mordaunt:

Further to the answer given to PQ138410 on 20 January, there have been no

meetings of the Trade Partnership Council to date. It has however agreed by

committee procedure, the extension of the provisional application of the Trade and

Cooperation Agreement.

From 1 March Lord Frost, as Cabinet Office minister, is the UK co-chair of the

Partnership Council as of 1 March 2021, and is accountable for its overall operation.

Departments will lead on the Trade and Cooperation Specialised Committees in their

areas.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

Church of England: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Jim Shannon: [165541]

To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church

Commissioners, what steps the church is taking to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions

ahead of COP26.

Andrew Selous:

The General Synod of the Church of England, at its meeting in February 2020,

committed the Church of England to reach carbon net zero' by 2030. This year the

Church of England's National Institutions have reviewed their Energy Footprint Tool,

which enables parishes and cathedrals to monitor their carbon usage. The tool was

launched in 2020, and it has been used by over 5,000 churches so far. More

information can be found here: https://www.churchofengland.org/news-and-

media/news-and-statements/one-year-church-moves-forward-carbon-reduction-target

The Church of England Pensions Board is a member of the Institutional Investors

Group on Climate Change (IIGCC). This week the investor group has launched the

'Net Zero Investment Framework' following a period of industry-wide consultation.

The framework will enable investors to maximise their contribution to the

decarbonisation of the global economy and tackle climate change. More information




can be found here: https://www.churchofengland.org/news-and-media/church-

england-pensions-board-commits-global-net-zero-investment-framework

The Church Commissioners are committed to reaching a net-zero portfolio in 2050,

and the Church of England's National Investing Bodies joined the UN Net Zero Asset

Owner Alliance in 2020. More detail about the alliance can be found here:

https://www.churchofengland.org/news-and-media/news-and-statements/church-

england-national-investing-bodies-join-un-convened-net

The Church Commissioners have instituted further climate-related investment

restrictions to capture companies with significant greenhouse gas emissions but are

not taking their responsibilities seriously to assist with the transition to a net-zero

emissions economy. The Commissioners are also setting our first interim emissions

reduction target as members of the Net Zero Asset Owner Alliance, working with our

public equities managers to achieve it.

Church of England: Land



Commissioners, what steps the church is taking to provide affordable, sustainable and

beautiful housing on land it owns.

Andrew Selous:

The Church Commissioners have welcomed the report of the Archbishops' Housing

Commission. The report 'Coming Home', about housing provision in the UK, calls for

a national plan to tackle the housing crisis, it can be read here:

https://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/priorities/coming-home

The Church Commissioners are producing a framework for the integration of material

environmental, social and governance in the management of their Strategic Land, a

summary of which can be found here:

https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2021-

02/Strategic%20Land%20ESG%20Integration%20%28ID%20217419%29.pdf

More information about some of the recent property developments on land owned by

the Church Commissioners can be found here:

https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2021-

02/Strategic%20Land%20Case%20Studies%20%28ID%20217418%29.pdf

Religious Freedom



Commissioners, what representations the church is making in countries where people are

being persecuted for their faith or belief.

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Andrew Selous:

The Church of England has regular meetings with the Foreign, Commonwealth and

Development Office about countries where people are persecuted for their faith or

belief so that Her Majesty’s Government can raise these vital issues with the

Governments of the countries concerned.

The Church also engages with our heads of mission, civil society groups, and where

possible, with the foreign Governments in question.

Remote Education



Commissioners, what steps the church has taken to provide support for the teaching of

children at home during the covid-19 lockdown.

Andrew Selous:

Church of England schools remained open during the pandemic for key worker

children and also, where possible, for those who are unable to study at home. All

teachers and staff in Church schools who are providing teaching and care at this

difficult time deserve our deep gratitude.

Church schools moved rapidly to provide online lessons and resources, looking after

children of key workers and overseeing the distribution of free school meal vouchers

and technology to make online education possible. The Church is also delighted to

have partnered with the Oak National Academy to provide assemblies and weekly

collective worship for parents who are home-schooling.

Many parishes and cathedrals, such as Wakefield Cathedral, donated laptops and

equipment to vulnerable children, which enabled these young people to continue to

engage in education from home during the pandemic.

COP26

UN Climate Conference 2021 : Expenditure

Ruth Jones: [158204]

To ask the President of COP26, how much the Government has spent on preparations

for COP26 since (a) 1 January 2020 and (b) 1 January 2021.

Alok Sharma:

Discussions on costs for COP26 are currently ongoing, and final budgets are yet to

be confirmed. After the event, spend will be reported in the usual way.



Woodhouse Colliery

Margaret Ferrier: [156421]

To ask the President of COP26, what representations he has made to Cabinet colleagues

on the effect of the Woodhouse Colliery project on the UK's Paris Climate Agreement

obligations.

Alok Sharma:

I have regular meetings with Cabinet colleagues on a variety of issues. It is for

councils to make a decision on the planning proposals which are submitted to them,

applying the Government’s national planning rules and weighing up each case on its

merits. Coal generated only 1.6% of the UK’s electricity mix in 2020, compared with

almost 25% five years ago.

The UK is fully committed to decarbonising industry and phasing out coal for power

generation by 2024 (subject to consultation) as part of our pathway to net zero

emissions by 2050.

DEFENCE

Armed Forces: Officers

Derek Twigg: [164354]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) sixth form scholarships, (b)

university bursaries and (c) other bursaries were awarded in each of the last five years to

pupils or ex-pupils of (i) state and (ii) private schools for officer candidates.

Johnny Mercer:

The requested information is not held centrally and could be provided only at

disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Pay

Mr Kevan Jones: [164373]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 24 February 2021 to

Question 154826, on Armed Forces: Pay, for what reason the Office of Manpower

Economics disagrees with his assessment that the recommendations of the Armed

Forces’ Pay Review Body have always been accepted by his Department.

Johnny Mercer:

The Ministry of Defence is not aware of any such disagreement and has nothing to

add to the Answer provided to Question 154826 on 24 February 2021.

Attachments:

1. 154826 - Armed Forces Pay [Armed Forces pay.docx]




BAe 146 Aircraft


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when his Department plans to publish costings

for the replacement of the four BAE 146 aircraft which are to be retired.

Jeremy Quin:

No decision has been made on a replacement for the BAE 146 Fleet the out of

service date for which is March 2022; however, options are under consideration as

part of MOD's routine capability planning process.

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft: Procurement


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to reduce the order of F35s

from the original number of 138.


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Government plans to buy more

than 48 F-35b aircraft.

Jeremy Quin:

I refer the hon. Member to the answer provided by my right hon. Friend Baroness

Goldie to Question HL11192 to the noble Lord, Lord West of Spithead on 16

December 2020.

The full conclusions of the Integrated Review will be announced on 16 March 2021.

Attachments:

1. HL11192 - Joint Strike Fighter [HL 11192.docx]

Military Bases: Catterick


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much funding has been allocated to

Catterick Garrison in each of the last five years; and what assessment he has made of

the effect of that funding on the North Yorkshire economy.

Jeremy Quin:

The Ministry of Defence’s presence in Catterick has enabled a critical mass of

personnel to be located in the area which has had a positive impact on the overall

economic prosperity of the area. The almost 7,000 personnel who have permanent

employment at Catterick Garrison, alongside the 3,000 that pass through on an

annual basis, represent an important source of spending and income for the

surrounding local communities.

The total Defence Infrastructure Organisation delivered expenditure on infrastructure

at Catterick Garrison, by financial year, is shown below:





FINANCIAL YEAR (FY) TOTAL SPEND £M

2020/21 46.75 1

2019/20 53.39

2018/19 96.02

1. The figure given for this financial year is as at 28 February 2021.

2. Prior to FY 2018/19, expenditure was managed centrally by the Defence

Infrastructure Organisation and it is not possible to break down spend by

establishment.

3. Due to the way the Department allocates and manages expenditure, it is not

possible to provide detail on staff and running costs.

Military Bases: Northern Ireland

Sir Jeffrey M Donaldson: [164363]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to make changes to the

composition or strength of the Northern Ireland Garrison.

Johnny Mercer:

The right hon. Member will be aware that the full conclusions of the Integrated

Review will be published next week, and the Defence Secretary intends to set out his

plans for Defence shortly afterwards. It would not be appropriate for me to pre-empt

these announcements in any way however you can rest assured that the Government

is absolutely committed that the UK continues to have a world class Armed Forces

based across all of our Nations, and that we remain resolute in our intent to protect

and promote the combined strengths of our Union.

Voyager Aircraft


To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many times has the VIP A330 Voyager

been used in each financial year since its conversion; and by whom.

Jeremy Quin:

The number of occasions Voyager ZZ336 has been used in the VIP role since it was

converted for that function is given in the table below.

FY 2016-17 FY2017-18 FY2018-19 FY2019-20 FY2020-21*

8 10 10 5 1

* 1 April 2020 to 9 March 2021



When operating in the VIP transport role, ZZ336 has carried the Prime Minister,

senior members of the Royal family and Cabinet Ministers. However, military air-to-air

refuelling remains Voyager ZZ336's primary mission.

DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

British Board of Film Classification

Catherine McKinnell: [164475]

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will consult with

the British Board of Film Classification on the development of the Online Safety Bill in

relation to (a) content standards and (b) the regulation of pornographic content.

Caroline Dinenage:

Ministers and officials will continue to engage with a wide range of stakeholders on

the development of the Online Safety Bill, including the BBFC. The BBFC offers

unparalleled expertise in content classification, including pornographic content.

The video sharing platform regime, for which Ofcom is the regulator, came into force

on 1 November 2020. UK-established video sharing platforms must now take

appropriate measures to protect the public, including minors, from illegal and harmful

material. Ofcom, and the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) have a strong

collaborative relationship when working on audience protection issues. The BBFC is

engaging actively with both Ofcom and video sharing platforms to share their

expertise on emerging technologies and the applicability of content ratings.

Over the past year the government has also been working with the BBFC and

industry to drive the voluntary adoption of the BBFC’s age rating symbols by video on

demand platforms. We will continue to engage with industry to encourage platforms

to use BBFC age ratings, and will keep the evidence for legislation in this area under

review.

Football Association Premier League: Coronavirus


To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he plans to

take to work with the Premier League to (a) identify breaches of covid-19 lockdown rules

by football players and (b) ensure that prosecutions are pursued against those players for

any such breaches of those lockdown rules as permitted under the Coronavirus Act 2020.

Nigel Huddleston:

The Secretary of State and I met with The Football Association, Premier League and

English Football League earlier this year to discuss the importance of adherence to

the strict COVID protocols they introduced last season.

In that meeting, the Secretary of State and I made the football authorities fully aware

of their responsibility to ensure that players and staff act in accordance with

government rules and guidance. The football authorities reiterated this important



message to their clubs and players, highlighting the significance of both matchday

and non-matchday COVID protocols.

Any person, no matter their profession, found guilty of breaching the law should be

prosecuted accordingly.

Post Codes: Databases


To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make an

assessment of the role of the Postcode Address File in supporting the implementation of

the principles of the UK’s National Data Strategy; and if he will place a copy of that

assessment in the Library.

Mr John Whittingdale:

The National Data Strategy (NDS) provides a framework for how government will

unlock the value of data - laying out the issues we must tackle (the pillars), the

objectives we prioritise now (the missions) and the opportunities we must harness. It

is not the final answer, but part of a conversation about the way that we support the

use of data in the UK.

We have completed initial research to develop our evidence base on the

opportunities and rationale for Government intervention to enable and encourage

better access to data held outside government, such as PAF data owned by Royal

Mail. This, and our response to NDS consultation submissions, will be published

shortly. Key findings will inform a policy framework for future action.

Sports: Coronavirus


To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what evidence the

Government took into account when making its decision to permit elite sports to continue

during the covid-19 lockdown announced in January 2021.

Nigel Huddleston:

Elite and professional sports competition has consistently been permitted since June,

in common with other work which cannot be conducted from home. Government has

issued thorough guidance to support Covid-secure training and competition.

Governing bodies have established their own sport specific protocols, including

appropriate mitigations and testing regimes. At every stage we have capitalised on

medical and public health expertise.

Video on Demand

Catherine McKinnell: [164474]

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is

taking to ensure that video-on-demand and streaming platforms adhere to best practice

age labelling guidelines produced by the British Board of Film Classification.




Caroline Dinenage:

As the designated body for age classification of film content, the Government has

great trust in the British Board of Film Classification’s (BBFC) best practice age

ratings.

While adoption of the BBFC’s age ratings by online platforms is currently voluntary,

we welcome their usage by Video on Demand platforms. We were particularly

pleased to see Netflix announce on 1 December 2020 that they have become the first

platform to achieve complete coverage of their content under the BBFC’s ratings. We

will continue to engage with industry to encourage other Video on Demand platforms

to adopt the BBFC’s ratings across all of their content, and will keep the evidence for

legislation in this area under review.

The video sharing platform regime, for which Ofcom is the regulator, came into force

on 1 November 2020. UK-established video sharing platforms must now take

appropriate measures to protect the public, including minors, from illegal and harmful

material. The BBFC is engaging actively with both Ofcom and video sharing platforms

to share their expertise on emerging technologies and the applicability of content

ratings on the streaming platforms.

EDUCATION

Assessments: Coronavirus

Wes Streeting: [164546]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what arrangements he is making for (a)

SATS, (b) GCSE, (c) A-level and (d) BTEC examinations in the 2021-22 academic year.

Nick Gibb:

Primary assessments have a crucial role in supporting pupils to grasp the basics of

reading, writing and mathematics and to prepare them for secondary school. The

Department is planning for a full programme of primary assessments to take place in

the 2021-22 academic year. We will confirm full details for 2021-22 primary

assessments in due course.

The Government remains clear that exams are the fairest method to assess pupils.

We know that pupils and teachers will be working hard in preparation for GCSE and

A level exams in 2022, as well as for their vocational and technical qualification

exams and assessments, including BTEC examinations. We will make sure that the

interests of pupils are at the centre of our considerations.

It is important that pupils in this cohort are able to get a grade safely and fairly and we

will continue to monitor the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on all pupils to ensure

that those due to take exams and assessments in 2022 are supported to move to the

next stage of their lives fairly. We will make further announcements in due course.


Children's Centres: Closures

Tulip Siddiq: [164550]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many (a) children’s centres and (b)

children’s centre linked sites have closed in each local authority area in each year since

2009-10.


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department includes family hubs

in its definition of children’s centres for the purpose of data collection.


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, in what year the first children’s centre was

converted into a children’s centre linked site.

Vicky Ford:

The attached table shows the number of children’s centres and children’s centre

linked sites that have closed in each local authority each year since 2009-10.[1] [2]

The legal definition of a children’s centre is set out in Part 1 of the Childcare Act

2006, which can be accessed here:

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/21/part/1 and in the underpinning statutory

guidance, which can be accessed here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sure-start-childrens-centres. It is up to a

local authority to decide whether a centre (whether it is branded as a family hub, a

children’s centre, or uses another name) should be counted as a children’s centre for

data collection purposes, based on its interpretation of this definition.

The government does not hold information on the date a children’s centre converts to

a children’s centre linked site.

[1] Source: This is based on information supplied by local authorities to Get

Information about Schools (GIAS) database https://www.get-information-

schools.service.gov.uk and internal management information held by the department

on historical children’s centre closure dates as of 9 March 2021. These figures may

be different to previous answers, and could change again in future, since local

authorities may update their data at any time. The GIAS collects data on children’s

centres that local authorities have closed on a permanent basis. It does not collect

data on children’s centres that local authorities may have closed temporarily in

response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

[2] The table sets out the number of children's centres and children's centre linked

sites closed each calendar year since 30 April 2010. No data is held on the number of

children's centre sites closed prior to 30 April 2010. No closures were reported in the

period between 30 April 2010 and 31 December 2010.

Attachments:

1. 164550 164551 164552 attachment [164550 164551 164552 - children's centre

closures by local authority and year.xlsx]




https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/21/part/1

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/21/part/1

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sure-start-childrens-centres

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sure-start-childrens-centres

https://www.get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/



Education: Coronavirus

Olivia Blake: [163334]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he will take to monitor the extent

to which the exemptions allowing the removal of face coverings when speaking to

someone who relies on lip reading, clear sound or facial expressions are being utilised in

classrooms when schools return on 8 March 2021.


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether it is his policy that, in an educational

setting, when speaking to someone who relies on lip reading, clear sound or facial

expressions, wearing face shields or visors may be more effective in preventing the

spread of covid-19 than not wearing any face covering.


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the pilot scheme on the use

transparent facemasks, what advice based on the findings of that scheme has been

shared with his Department on the use of transparent facemasks outside of health and

social care systems.

Nick Gibb:

The Department continues to work closely with other Government departments

throughout its response to the COVID-19 outbreak, including Public Health England

(PHE) and the Department of Health and Social Care, as well as stakeholders across

the sector. The Department is continuing to work to ensure that our policy is based on

the latest scientific and medical advice, in order to develop comprehensive guidance

based on the PHE-endorsed ‘system of controls’ and to understand the effect of

these measures on staff, pupils and parents.

The Department recently published updated guidance for schools to support the

return to full attendance from 8 March, which includes updated advice on face

coverings. The guidance can be found here:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachm

ent_data/file/964351/Schools_coronavirus_operational_guidance.pdf.

As the guidance outlines, where pupils in Year 7 and above are educated, the

Department recommends that face coverings should be worn by adults and pupils

when moving around outside of classrooms, such as in corridors and communal

areas where social distancing cannot easily be maintained.

From 8 March, the Department recommends that in schools and colleges where

pupils in Year 7 and above are educated, face coverings should be worn in

classrooms unless social distancing can be maintained. The Department is

recommending these additional precautionary measures for a for a time limited period

until Easter. As with all measures, they will be under review and guidance will be

updated, as necessary.




https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/964351/Schools_coronavirus_operational_guidance.pdf



Some individuals are exempt from wearing face coverings. This includes people who

cannot put on, wear or remove a face covering because of a physical or mental

illness or impairment, or disability, or if you are speaking to or providing assistance to

someone who relies on lip reading, clear sound or facial expressions to

communicate. The same legal exemptions that apply to the wearing of face coverings

in shops and on public transport also apply in schools and colleges.

Individuals working with someone who relies on lip reading, clear sound or facial

expressions to communicate are exempt from wearing a face covering in settings

where they are normally required.

Transparent face coverings, which may assist communication with someone who

relies on lip reading, clear sound or facial expression to communicate, can also be

worn. There is currently very limited evidence regarding the effectiveness or safety of

transparent face coverings, but they may be effective in reducing the spread of

COVID-19.

NHS England and NHS Improvement are exploring the use of transparent type IIR

masks within clinical settings. As part of this work, a trusted group of stakeholders

within the special educational needs and disability sector, with a clinical need for a

transparent type IIR masks, will be asked to provide feedback on a selection of

products.

Educational Visits: Coronavirus

Tim Loughton: [164337]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when he plans to announce guidance for

schools wanting to restore educational residential trips from the summer 2021 term.

Nick Gibb:

Schools are advised against all educational visits at this time. The Department is

working on advice for schools on the planning and booking of residential trips when it

is safe to do so and in line with the Government’s roadmap to recovery, as set out in:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-response-spring-2021/covid-

19-response-spring-2021. The advice will be published shortly.

National Tutoring Programme


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the number of

pupils who will be taught under the National Tutoring Programme; and if he will publish

that data by (a) constituency and (b) local authority.

Nick Gibb:

The National Tutoring Programme (NTP) provides additional, targeted support to

disadvantaged pupils by providing schools with access to high quality, subsidised

tuition from a selection of approved Tuition Partners.



In the academic year 2020/21, we expect that 250,000 pupils will be provided with

tuition from NTP Tuition Partners. We are working to ensure that there is a high level

of awareness amongst schools of the support available, particularly in areas with high

numbers of disadvantaged pupils. The NTP is led by demand from schools; we do

not estimate the number of pupils that will be taught under NTP at constituency and

local authority level.

In February 2021, we launched a tendering process to secure a NTP delivery partner

to provide a further year of NTP support, which we expect to support approximately

750,000 pupils through the NTP in academic year 2021/22.

North West Association of Primary Headteachers

Bill Esterson: [164441]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when he plans to reply to the letters from the

North West Association of Primary Headteachers of (a) 19 November 2020 and (b) 2

March 2021.

Nick Gibb:

I can confirm that a response has been sent to the letters dated 19 November 2020

and 2 March 2021, from the North West Association of Primary Headteachers.

Private Tutors: Vetting


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans he has to make it a requirement

for private tutors to undergo safeguarding checks and be subject to the DBS

requirements applicable to directly employed teachers; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb:

Nothing is more important than the safety of children, which is why private tutors are

already eligible to receive basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificates,

which parents and carers should ask to see to assure themselves of a tutor’s

suitability. In addition to asking to see a private tutor’s basic DBS certificate, parents

and carers might also consider what other information may be available to help them

assess a tutor’s suitability to work with their children. It is recommended that parents

confirm a tutor’s identity. Testimonials from parents and/or pupils themselves will help

provide reassurance about the tutor’s teaching ability and about the way in which

they interact with the pupil.

Parents and carers should also look to ensure that the home tutoring takes place in a

room in the home that allows the parent access to enable them to supervise.

The Government is exploring ways to allow self employed people, including tutors, to

access enhanced criminal records checks.

On 21 October 2020, the Department published ‘Keeping children safe during

community activities, after-school clubs and tuition: non-statutory guidance for

providers running out-of-school settings’. This guidance is for organisations or



individuals who provide community activities, tuition or after school clubs for children,

also known as out of school settings (OOSS) providers, as well as their staff and

volunteers.

The guidance aims to help providers of OOSS understand best practice for creating a

safe environment for children in their care and give parents and carers confidence

that their child is in a safe activity or teaching environment. The guidance can be

found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-out-

of-school-settings-code-of-practice.

Alongside this, the Department has also published accompanying guidance for

parents and carers to help support them when choosing OOSS providers for their

children, including positive signs and red flags to look out for. This can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-for-parents-and-carers-on-

safeguarding-children-in-out-of-school-settings.

Pupils: Coronavirus

Fiona Bruce: [164413]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what provision is being made for

unaccompanied children who need to return to the UK and quarantine in order to return to

school.

Nick Gibb:

Unaccompanied children arriving in the UK to attend a day school must quarantine in

accordance with the requirements for other people arriving in the UK. For those

arriving from non ‘red list’ countries, this will normally require them to quarantine with

their family or guardians. Unaccompanied children arriving from ‘red list’ countries

who are not boarding school pupils will need to meet a family member who can

quarantine with them in a managed quarantine facility on arrival.

Arrangements for the quarantine of international boarders attending schools in

England should be in place before boarding school pupils’ travel.

Arrangements for boarders arriving from non ‘red list’ countries are laid out in

‘Schools coronavirus (COVID-19) operational guidance’ published by the

Department. This guidance is available here:


ent_data/file/964351/Schools_coronavirus_operational_guidance.pdf.

Arrangements for boarders that meet the relevant UK entry requirements and will

arrive from ‘red list’ countries, or having travelled through a ‘red list’ country in the 10

days prior to arrival, must be in line with the guidance available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/quarantine-arrangements-for-boarding-

school-students-from-red-list-countries. In line with the guidance, boarding school

pupils must quarantine within accommodation provided for or arranged by their

boarding school.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-out-of-school-settings-code-of-practice



https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-for-parents-and-carers-on-safeguarding-children-in-out-of-school-settings







https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/quarantine-arrangements-for-boarding-school-students-from-red-list-countries



Remote Education: ICT


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many (a) laptop devices and (b) internet

dongles were distributed to schools prior to 8 March 2021 as part of the Government's

policies to support remote learning during the covid-19 outbreak.

Nick Gibb:

As of Monday 8 March 2021, over 1.2 million laptops and tablets have been delivered

to schools, academy trusts, local authorities and further education colleges. More

information can be found here: https://explore-education-

statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/laptops-and-tablets-data.

The Department publishes this data every week during term time.

Schools: Databases


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when he plans to publish the data from the

January 2021 school census.

Nick Gibb:

The spring 2021 census date was 21 January and the window for schools to return

census data closed on Wednesday 17 February. The data collection is due to close

fully following data cleaning and validation in mid-March.

Spring census data is then released annually, mainly via the four national statistics

publications listed below. The weblinks refer to the publications January 2020. The

release schedule for January 2021 is expected to follow similar timescales.

• Pupil absence in schools in England:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-pupil-absence last published

in May 2020 relating to the Autumn 2019 term.

• Schools, Pupils and their Characteristics:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-school-and-pupil-numbers

last published in June 2020.

• Special Educational Needs in England:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-special-educational-needs-

sen last published in July 2020.

• Expulsions and suspensions in England:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-exclusions last published in

July 2020 and note that this data is collected in arrears such that the upcoming

publication will relate to the 2019/20 academic year.

A provisional publication schedule giving anticipated month of publication can be

found in the gov.uk research and statistics publication calendar at:

https://www.gov.uk/search/research-and-



https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-pupil-absence

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-pupil-absence



https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-special-educational-needs-sen



https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-exclusions

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-exclusions

https://www.gov.uk/search/research-and-statistics?content_store_document_type=upcoming_statistics&order=release-date-oldest


statistics?content_store_document_type=upcoming_statistics&order=release-date-

oldest.

Special Educational Needs: Autism

Tracy Brabin: [164580]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment has he made of the

adequacy of the availability of options at GCSE level for children with autism in (a) Batley

and Spen constituency, (b) Kirklees, (c) West Yorkshire and (d) England.

Nick Gibb:

During the GCSE reform process from 2011, the Department consulted extensively

with schools, colleges and universities, and employers on both the principles for

reform and the detail of the content of individual subjects. As part of this, we also

carefully considered the effect of the reforms on pupils with special educational needs

and disabilities and published Equalities Impact Assessments for all subjects.

In addition to this, examination boards have a duty, under the Equality Act 2010, to

make reasonable adjustments for pupils with disabilities who, because of their

disability, would otherwise be at a substantial disadvantage when demonstrating their

skills, knowledge and understanding. These adjustments are made to remove or

reduce disadvantages that such students face compared with students who are not

disabled.

Whilst decisions on what GCSEs to offer at a local level are for individual schools to

take, all state funded schools have a statutory duty to provide a broad and balanced

curriculum, and this is replicated in academy funding agreements.

Tracy Brabin: [164581]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the

adequacy of the availability of mainstream school places for children with autism in (a)

Batley and Spen constituency, (b) Kirklees, (c) West Yorkshire and (d) England.

Vicky Ford:

The majority of children with autism are educated in mainstream settings. Of those

children identified with a primary need of autistic spectrum disorder as either requiring

special educational needs support (67,867 children) or who have an education,

health and care plan (82,847 children), 108,481 are currently educated in mainstream

settings in England. This trend is replicated in the Kirklees local authority area, where

328 of 474 children with a primary need of autism are in mainstream settings, and in

the Batley and Spen constituency, where the numbers are 75 out of 79 children. [1]

The statutory duty to provide sufficient school places, including for those with special

educational needs and disabilities (SEND), sits with local authorities. We provide

funding for all of the places that are needed, based on local authorities’ own data.

This is why we have announced nearly £500 million to provide places needed for

2023. This funding is on top of over £8.1 billion to provide places needed from 2015

to 2022 and our investment in the free schools programme.





Published data on school capacity estimates that, as at May 2019, Kirklees still

needed to provide a further 300 places by September 2021. Funding is allocated at

local authority level and cannot be broken down further. Kirklees has been allocated

£53.2 million to provide new school places since 2010.

Under the SEND Code of Practice 2015, all mainstream schools are under a duty to

use their best endeavours to support children with special educational needs

(whether or not the child has an education, health and care plan). The Children and

Families Act 2014 requires local authorities to keep the provision for children and

young people with SEND under review (including its sufficiency), working with

parents, young people, and providers.

[1] https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/special-

educational-needs-in-england

Special Educational Needs: Coronavirus


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment his Department has made

of the ability of schools to deliver SEND provision when schools reopen during the covid-

19 outbreak from 8 March 2021; and what specific support his Department has provided

schools for that provision.

Vicky Ford:

As of 8 March 2021 school attendance is mandatory for all pupils, and schools have

remained open throughout national lockdown for vulnerable children including those

children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) with an education,

health and care plan (ECHP). The department is tracking attendance daily to monitor

what is happening following wider reopening. These data include information on

attendance by those children with SEND with an EHCP. Monitoring of attendance

enables us to see how many children and young people with SEND are in school and

receiving face to face provision.

To support schools in wider opening, we have published guidance to support

teachers, school leaders and staff to deliver SEND provision safely. We have worked

closely with other government department, bodies as well as the sector to develop

this guidance, available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/guidance-

for-schools-coronavirus-covid-19,

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-for-full-opening-special-

schools-and-other-specialist-settings.

We are clear that all therapies and support that would normally be in place for

children and young people with EHCPs should be provided, and our focus is on

supporting local authorities, health commissioning bodies and education settings to

do so.

As part of our system of controls, we have worked hard to design a testing regime

that works for children and young people with SEND. This includes introducing a

home testing approach (to which all pupils and students will default following the first

https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/special-educational-needs-in-england




https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/guidance-for-schools-coronavirus-covid-19



https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-for-full-opening-special-schools-and-other-specialist-settings



two weeks of on-site testing), building in flexibility for specialist settings, and exploring

the use of new technologies to support those who cannot tolerate a swab test.

Students: Coronavirus

Ms Lyn Brown: [163661]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the

potential effect of paying for student accommodation that is unoccupied during the covid-

19 outbreak on the finances of deprived families.


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will make an assessment of the

potential effect of the payment of fees for university accommodation that is unoccupied

during the covid-19 outbreak on (a) families on low incomes and (b) single parent

families.


To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support is available for families that are

paying for student accommodation that is unoccupied due to the covid-19 outbreak.

Michelle Donelan:

This has been a very difficult time for students, and we welcome the decision from

many universities and accommodation providers to offer rent rebates for students who

need to stay away from their term-time address. The government urges universities

and private landlords to review their accommodation policies to ensure they are fair,

clear and have the interests of students at heart.

The government has been clear in published guidance that tenants should continue

to pay rent and abide by all other terms of their tenancy agreement to the best of their

ability. Where they can pay the rent as normal, they should do so. Tenants who are

unable to do so should speak to their landlord at the earliest opportunity.

This guidance is available to view at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-and-renting-guidance-for-

landlords-tenants-and-local-authorities.

If students have concerns about their accommodation fees, they should first raise

their concerns with their accommodation provider. If their concerns remain

unresolved, and their higher education provider is involved in the provision of the

accommodation, students at providers in England or Wales can ask the Office of the

Independent Adjudicator (OIA) for Higher Education to consider their complaint.

If a student thinks their accommodation provider is treating them unfairly, they can

raise a complaint under the accommodation codes of practice as long as their

provider is a code member. The codes can be found at: https://www.thesac.org.uk/,

https://www.unipol.org.uk/the-code/how-to-complain and

https://www.rla.org.uk/about/nrla-code-of-practice.shtml




https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-and-renting-guidance-for-landlords-tenants-and-local-authorities



https://www.thesac.org.uk/

https://www.thesac.org.uk/

https://www.unipol.org.uk/the-code/how-to-complain

https://www.unipol.org.uk/the-code/how-to-complain



We recognise that in these exceptional circumstances some students may face

financial hardship. The Department for Education has worked with the Office for

Students (OfS) to clarify that providers are able to use existing funds, worth around

£256 million for academic year 2020/21, towards hardship support. We have also

made an additional £70 million of student hardship funding available to higher

education providers this financial year.

Providers will have flexibility in how they distribute the funding to students, in a way

that will best prioritise those in greatest need. Support might include help for students

facing additional costs arising from having to maintain accommodation in more than

one location. I also made clear in my 2 February 2021 guidance to the OfS that the

funding should be available to help students that have already applied for hardship

funding previously but now need additional support. The funding can be distributed to

a wide population of students, including postgraduates (whether taught or research)

and international students. We will continue to monitor the situation to look at what

impact this funding is having.

Students will normally qualify for Child Benefit if they are responsible for a child under

16 (or under 20 if they stay in approved education or training). Full-time students with

children can also apply for Childcare Grant and Parents' Learning Allowance. Full-

time students who are single parents or student couples, one or both of whom are

responsible for a child, and part-time students responsible for a child can apply for

Universal Credit.

Teachers: Coronavirus

Theresa Villiers: [164388]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to enable retired

teachers to take part in volunteer programmes to assist children and young people with

catch-up learning.

Nick Gibb:

Former teachers returning to the classroom are an important component of the

Department’s recruitment strategy, and we continue to prioritise initiatives that

capitalise on any potential increased interest in the profession from former teachers.

This includes former teachers who wish to provide support with the recovery phase of

the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Department is using a Return to Teaching Adviser Service to support these

efforts. This service provides one-to-one support to former teachers interested in

returning to teach mathematics, physics and modern foreign languages. Through the

Return to Teaching Adviser Service, the Department has also encouraged former

teachers to support wider pupil catch up efforts, such as the National Tutoring

Programme.

In addition, throughout the recovery phase of the COVID-19 outbreak, volunteers

may be used to support the work of the school as would usually be the case, in

appropriate roles and subject to proper support, assessment and checks, as set out


in the Department’s guidance ‘Keeping children safe in education’, which is available

here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-

education--2.

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture: Subsidies

Daniel Zeichner: [164502]

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of

direct payments made to farmers were (a) less than £30,000, (b) £30,000 to £50,000, (c)

£50,001 to £150,000 and (d) more than £150,000 in the most recent financial year for

which that information is available.

Victoria Prentis:

The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has a number of schemes providing direct

payments to the rural economy. The three main land schemes, which offer an annual

payment, are Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), Countryside Stewardship (CS) and the

Environmental Stewardship Scheme (ES).

For the current 2020 Scheme year the figures are below:

BPS Paid Population = 83,593

BPS PROPORTION OF PAYMENTS

a) less than £30,000 79.8%

b) £30,000 to £50,000 9.8%

c) £50,001 to £150,000 9.1%

d) over £150,000 1.3%

CS Paid Population = 12,409

CS PROPORTION OF PAYMENTS

a) less than £30,000 95.7%

b) £30,000 to £50,000 2.9%

c) £50,001 to £150,000 1.3%

d) over £150,000 0.1%

ES Paid Population = 8,300

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education--2




ES PROPORTION OF PAYMENTS

a) Less than £30,000 89.0%

b) £30,000 to £50,000 6.4%

c) £50,001 to £150,000 4.1%

d) Over £150,000 0.4%

Dogs: Imports and Sales

Sir Greg Knight: [164364]

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is

taking to prevent the (a) import and (b) advertising and sale of dogs with cropped ears in

the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Victoria Prentis:

The practice of mutilating dogs’ ears is abhorrent and has rightly been banned in the

UK for 15 years.

We already have some of the world’s highest animal welfare standards. The end of

the transition period has opened up new opportunities for managing our own pet

travel and commercial importation rules. We are actively listening to the concerns of

stakeholders and the Government is considering options regarding the importation

and commercial movements of dogs with cropped ears into Great Britain in line with

World Trade Organization rules.

Importers of animals must adhere to welfare standards as set out in Council

Regulation (EC) 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport and in domestic

legislation, The Welfare of Animals (Transport) (England) Order 2006 (WATEO). This

legislation aims to protect the health and welfare of animals during transportation and

applies to dogs that are suffering injury as a result of non-exempted mutilations

including cropped ears.

The maximum penalty for causing unnecessary suffering to an animal or cropping a

dog’s ears in England is six months’ imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine. However,

the Government is committed to increasing the maximum custodial penalty for both of

these offences from six months to five years. The Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill,

currently before Parliament, which will implement this increase, will continue to

receive Government support as it completes its passage through Parliament.

The Government also continues to raise awareness regarding the improper selling of

pets by deceitful sellers in the UK and abroad through our ‘Petfished’ campaign. This

seeks to educate prospective pet buyers on common tricks and tactics used by

deceitful sellers which may result in the purchase of a mistreated or unwell pet,

including those that have been subject to cropping. The campaign urges buyers to

mitigate risks, for example by buying from trusted sellers such as those under the


Kennel Club’s Assured Breeder scheme, viewing puppies with their mothers and

siblings, asking questions of the seller and following the Animal Welfare Foundation

and RSPCA Puppy Contract to ensure that puppies are in good health when

purchased.

Hedgehogs: Conservation


To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent

estimate he has made of hedgehog numbers in the UK; and if he will take steps to move

hedgehogs to schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to strengthen their

protections.

Rebecca Pow:

The latest ‘Review of the Population and Conservation Status of British Mammals’

estimates the hedgehog populations in the UK is 522,000.

Wildlife policy is a devolved issue and this response is with regard to England only.

The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 sets out a legal duty for the Joint Nature

Conservation Committee (JNCC) to undertake a review of Schedule 5 and 8

(protected species) every five years to determine whether any further species warrant

inclusion, and for the Secretary of State to lay this advice before Parliament. This

review process is science led and evidence based, with criteria for consideration of

species agreed across the jurisdictions of the UK. The JNCC is currently reviewing

schedule 5 and will make recommendations for any additions at the end of this year.

Horse Racing: Animal Welfare

Kenny MacAskill: [164632]

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many horses

in the racing industry have died in training, as opposed to on course as a result of racing,

in the UK in each of the last five years; and what the (a) ages of those horses and (b)

causes of death were.


To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the

Government plans to take to ensure that horses in the racing industry are not abused,

subjected to cruelty or die as a result of training or racing.


To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many times

he has met the (a) British Horseracing Authority and (b) Horse Welfare Board on matters

relating to race horse welfare in (i) 2019, (ii) 2020 and (iii) 2021 to date.






To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to

130 horses dying on course in 2020, what steps he plans to take to ensure that horses

are not killed as the result of racing.

Victoria Prentis:

Ensuring the welfare needs of racehorses are well met, both during their racing lives

and afterwards is a priority. The British Horseracing Authority (BHA), British racing’s

governing and regulatory body, is responsible for the safety of racehorses at British

racecourses. The BHA works alongside the RSPCA and World Horse Welfare to

make horseracing as safe as possible.

The Government welcomed the creation of the racing industry’s Horse Welfare Board

(HWB), which was formed in March 2019. The Board is chaired by Barry Johnson,

former President of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (who is independent of

the BHA) and includes members from across the racing industry, veterinarians and

animal health and welfare experts. The Board has assured Defra that it is committed

to doing all it can to make the sport safer and improve welfare outcomes. The HWB

published its five-year horse welfare strategy “A life well lived” last year:

http://media.britishhorseracing.com/bha/Welfare/HWB/WELFARE_STRATEGY.pdf.

The strategy contains 20 recommendations for the industry aimed at ensuring the

best possible safety and quality of life for racehorses.

One of the plan’s five identified outcomes (outcome 3 - 'Best possible safety') aims to

reduce and minimise, as far as reasonably possible, avoidable injuries and fatalities

to racehorses. This targets a reduction in injuries and fatalities on racecourses but

also those that occur in, or as a result of, training or pre-training methods, or which

are linked to breeding. The HWB has underlined the importance of data to better

understand the causes of injuries and fatalities to help achieve this outcome.

Defra does not hold any information related to racehorse fatalities including those that

have occurred during training. However, as well as collating and publishing data on

racing fatalities, the BHA, following the recommendations contained within the HWB’s

strategy, is working to improve data gathering in relation to thoroughbred racehorse

fatalities in training. This includes analysis of data and reporting mechanisms which

already exist regarding horses in training, and how these can be improved to provide

additional data on fatal injuries.

The Secretary of State has not met representatives of either the BHA or the HWB

between 2019 and now. I can confirm that the Parliamentary Under Secretary of

State at that time met with the BHA’s Director of Equine Health and the HWB’s

Independent Chair in May 2019 where both sides agreed that further action was

required to make the sport safer and to improve animal welfare standards across the

industry. My officials plan to meet with the BHA in due course and will continue to

engage with the sector to ensure that the welfare of racehorses, and reducing the


http://media.britishhorseracing.com/bha/Welfare/HWB/WELFARE_STRATEGY.pdf

http://media.britishhorseracing.com/bha/Welfare/HWB/WELFARE_STRATEGY.pdf

fatalities and injuries that result from racing, remain at the forefront of the BHA’s

priorities in delivering the plan’s outcomes.

Horses: Equine Herpes Virus

Anne Marie Morris: [162616]

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his

Department is taking to prevent the spread of the equine herpes virus into the UK.

Victoria Prentis:

We are aware of the outbreak of Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1) in Europe and are

monitoring the situation closely. We are in regular contact with the equine sector and

working with them to ensure owners are informed about the risks and are taking the

necessary precautions to keep their animals safe.

Equine Herpes Virus (EHV) is not notifiable to government and isolation of sick

animals is the best protection against infection. There is no public health risk.

Horse owners are advised to contact their private vet if they observe any respiratory

illness, abortion or neurological signs in horses or ponies in their care or would like to

discuss options for vaccination against the disease. We are monitoring the

effectiveness of vaccination with disease experts and the British Equine Veterinary

Association.

All horses imported into the UK are required to be certified as being fit to travel and

not to have originated from a premises where disease is known to be present. Any

horses imported into the UK should be placed in isolation for at least 10 days before

allowing them to mix with other equines. Comprehensive industry advice and

guidance on biosecurity and vaccination is available online.

Plastics: Biodegradability


To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the

Government is taking to (a) assess and (b) rollout the use of additives to make ordinary

plastic biodegradable.

Rebecca Pow:

In 2015, a Government report concluded that existing biodegradable standards are

only applicable to very specific conditions such as industrial composters. We are

concerned that, in the absence of robust standards, claims about the biodegradability

of plastic-based products cannot be verified leading to potential confusion in the

marketplace, possible increased levels of consumption and potential environmental

harm at the point of disposal.

Furthermore, in line with the advice received from the Hazardous Substances

Advisory Committee and as set out in the Resources and Waste Strategy, the

Government’s focus is on encouraging increased reuse and recycling of products and

materials, to extract maximum value from them, in line with our ambition to transition



to a circular economy. This being said, the Government recognises that innovation

into biodegradable plastics could help reduce the environmental impacts of plastics if

they are disposed of in the right way. However, this is often not the case. If

mistakenly recycled with other plastics, they have the potential to damage the quality

of the new products made from the recycled plastic. Furthermore, concerns persist

that plastics which are claimed to be biodegradable, if littered or otherwise released

into the environment in an uncontrolled way, may not degrade quickly or at all, and

they can only be composted if they meet relevant standards and are treated in line

with those standards.

As a consequence of these concerns, the Government published a call for evidence

in 2019 to help consider the development of product standards or certification criteria

for bio-based, biodegradable, and compostable plastics as well as to better

understand their effects on the environment and our current waste system. The call

for evidence is now closed and we are currently analysing the responses received;

we will publish a Government response shortly.

Potatoes: UK Trade with EU

Dave Doogan: [164621]

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment

his Department has made of the potential effect on domestic potato producers of banning

the anti-sprouting component DMN while allowing EU potato producers using that

component to import potatoes to the UK.

Victoria Prentis:

Before a pesticide can be used, its active substance must be approved and the

pesticide itself must be authorised. Decisions on approval and authorisation are

based on an assessment of the risks posed to people and to the environment. Such

decisions are devolved and so are taken by the relevant government or by the Health

and Safety Executive on its behalf. Decisions on the authorisation of pesticides for

use in Scotland are not, therefore, taken by the UK Government.

The active substance 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene (1,4-DMN) is approved but at present

there is no authorised product. All four UK governments have granted an emergency

authorisation allowing the limited and controlled use until 31 May of a 1,4-DMN

product to prevent sprouting of harvested potatoes. This emergency authorisation is

granted in recognition of the need for sprout suppression and the lack, in certain

circumstances, of alternative means of control.

Potatoes treated with 1,4-DMN are only permitted to be imported from the EU or

elsewhere if the level of the chemical is below a statutory Maximum Residue Level of

15 mg/kg.


Water: Consumption

Catherine West: [164563]

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when his

Department plans to set the personal water consumption target consulted on in 2019.

Rebecca Pow:

Good progress has been made in water efficiency policy development. Some of our

work was paused last winter, to support work on Covid-19. Our efficiency work now

continues at pace and we are committed to publishing the Government response this

spring, which sets out our ambition and a package of policies to reduce household

water consumption.

FOREIGN, COMMONWEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE

Anoosheh Ashoori

Lisa Nandy: [164446]

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what

recent representations he has made to his Iranian counterpart on the return of the

detained British national, Anoosheh Ashoori, to the UK.

James Cleverly:

We are doing everything we can to secure the release of British dual nationals

arbitrarily detained in Iran, including Anoosheh Ashoori, so that they can be reunited

with their loved ones.

The Foreign Secretary continues directly to press Foreign Minister Zarif for this and

The Prime Minister has raised the issue with President Rouhani. Our Ambassador in

Tehran consistently raises our detainees with the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs,

most recently on 9 March.

China: Diplomatic Service and Embassies



requests for access have been made by British Embassy and Consular officials in China

to (a) Tibet and (b) Tibetans held in confinement; which of those requests for access

were permitted; and if he will make a statement.

Nigel Adams:

British diplomats last visited the Tibet Autonomous Region in July 2019, following a

request for access by our Embassy in Beijing. We periodically request access to the

Tibet Autonomous Region, but did not do so in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic and

related reasons. A British Ambassador has not visited Tibet since 2017. Our

Ambassador is the UK representative to the whole of China and we believe it is

important she is able to visit all parts of the country. We have not requested access to

Tibetans in detention. Our consular access is limited to British nationals. However,




we continue to express our concerns about the human rights situation in the Tibet

Autonomous Region with the Chinese authorities, and call on them to uphold the

rights of all citizens guaranteed in international law and China's own constitution.


Mr Andrew Mitchell: [164365]

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs,

which Department will incur the cost of the donation of the UK’s surplus covid-19 vaccine

doses to COVAX.

Wendy Morton:

The Prime Minister has confirmed that the UK will share the majority of any surplus

COVID-19 vaccines with the COVAX international vaccine procurement pool. As the

multilateral facility responsible for ensuring global equitable access to vaccines,

COVAX is best able to distribute vaccines where they are needed most.

Our current priorities are ensuring the safety of the UK population, and supporting

COVAX as it starts distributing vaccines to the most vulnerable populations around

the world. We will set out more details on funding mechanisms in due course.

Jamal Khashoggi


To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with

reference to the Office of the US Director of National Intelligence report, Assessing the

Saudi Government’s Role in the Killing of Jamal Khashoggi, published 11 February 2021,

what assessment he has made of the role of Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman in the

operation in Istanbul to capture or kill Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

James Cleverly:

The UK has always been clear that Khashoggi's murder was a terrible crime. We

condemn his killing in the strongest possible terms, which is why we have evidenced

by us sanctioning sanctioned twenty Saudi nationals involved in the murder under the

global human rights regime.



reference to the Office of the US Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) report,

Assessing the Saudi Government’s Role in the Killing of Jamal Khashoggi, published 11

February 2021, whether the ODNI shared the report with his Department ahead of its

publication.

James Cleverly:

It is the long-standing policy of the Government not to comment on intelligence

matters.






reference to the Office of the US Director of National Intelligence report, Assessing the

Saudi Government’s Role in the Killing of Jamal Khashoggi, published 11 February 2021,

whether he is making an assessment of the potential merits of designating Crown Prince

Muhammad bin Salman under the Global Human Rights sanctions regime.

James Cleverly:

It is not appropriate to speculate who may be designated under the sanctions regime

in the future.

Jerusalem: Internally Displaced People

Stephen Timms: [164342]


recent discussions he has had with relevant stakeholders on the conformity of the forcible

transfer of Palestinian families from their homes in East Jerusalem with international

criminal and humanitarian law; and if he will make a statement.

James Cleverly:

We regularly make clear our concerns about the evictions of Palestinians from their

homes in East Jerusalem to the Israeli authorities. The UK Ambassador in Tel Aviv

raised ongoing demolitions with the Israeli Authorities in a meeting alongside like-

minded partners on 25 February 2021. On 25 November 2020, the UK Consul

General Jerusalem visited families at risk of eviction in Sheikh Jarrah, restating UK

opposition to evictions of Palestinians from their homes. I raised the issue of evictions

of Palestinians from their homes with the Israeli Ambassador to the UK on 29

October 2020. Our position on demolitions and evictions in the Occupied Palestinian

Territories is clear. The Fourth Geneva Convention, which applies to all occupied

territories, including East Jerusalem, prohibits demolitions or forced evictions absent

military necessity.

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE

Autism and Learning Disability

Helen Hayes: [161814]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 26

February 2021 to Question 151777, whether each individual Transforming Care

Partnership has achieved (a) the March 2020 target and (b) the 2024 NHS long term plan

targets.

Helen Whately:

[Holding answer 8 March 2021]: In total, there are 44 Transforming Care

Partnerships. As of the end of January 2021, eight Transforming Care Partnerships

were at or below the 2024 Long Term Plan target rate of 30 adults in a mental health




inpatient setting per million of the adult population and a further seven were at or

below the March 2020 target of 37 per million.

Coronavirus: Contact Tracing

Neil Coyle: [137224]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how his Department monitors

how effectively the NHS track and trace system service reaches schoolchildren identified

as having covid-19.

Helen Whately:

Any positive case identified within the educational setting should reported to the

school. The school should then use their risk assessment to identify close contacts of

the index case and report cases via the Department for Education’s helpline.

Advisors will inform them of any further action that may be required in response to the

positive case.


Mr Steve Baker: [R] [127537]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the ONS

surveys of 30 October and 4 December 2020, whether he has made an assessment of

(a) the reasons for the ONS downgrade of its estimate of covid-19 in England from 9.52

per 10,000 on 17 October to 4.89 per 10,000 on 17 October 2020 and (b) the effect of

that revision on the Government’s decision to enter into a second national lockdown in

November 2020; and what steps the Government is taking to ensure that future covid-19

data published by the ONS will not require significant revision at a later date.

Helen Whately:

[Holding answer 14 December 2020]: The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have

published an extensive methodology document in relation to their COVID-19 Infection

Survey, which states that:

“All estimates presented in our bulletins are provisional results. As swabs are not

necessarily analysed in date order by the laboratory, we have not yet received test

results for all swabs taken on the dates included in this analysis. Estimates may

therefore be revised as more test results are included”.

The ONS COVID-19 Infection Survey is one of the many data sources the Scientific

Advisory Group for Emergencies include in their scientific advice to Government used

to inform decisions on COVID-19 restrictions. Other data sources include the REACT

STUDY, Test and Trace data and COVID-19 deaths and hospital admissions.

Collectively this data highlighted the need to tighten restrictions in November 2020.

The ONS COVID-19 Infection Survey is a pilot study developed at pace to help

monitor the situation as it evolves and is therefore undergoing continual quality

improvement.



Derek Twigg: [163640]


March 2021 to Question 160537, if he will publish the results of the modelling conducted

by Operational sub-group of the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling; and if

he will make a statement.

Ms Nadine Dorries:

[Holding answer 10 March 2021]: The modelling conducted by Scientific Pandemic

Influenza Group on Modelling to inform the roadmap is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/spi-m-o-summary-of-modelling-on-

easing-restrictions-3-february-2021


scenario-for-easing-restrictions-6-february-2021


roadmap-scenarios-17-february-2021

Coronavirus: Health Professions

Alex Norris: [163283]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is

taking to help ensure that clinicians are not subject to (a) legal and (b) regulatory action

for work outside their usual area of expertise during the covid-19 outbreak.

Ms Nadine Dorries:

[Holding answer 9 March 2021]: In April 2020, the Department wrote to National

Health Service staff to reassure them that state indemnity for clinical negligence is in

place to cover their work on the COVID-19 response. The Department has also

worked with the NHS, healthcare regulatory bodies and the Ministry of Justice to

ensure that complaints processes, investigations and legal claims do not place an

undue burden on staff or detract from responding to the pandemic.

In March 2020, the healthcare regulatory bodies issued a joint statement recognising

that professionals may need to depart from established procedures in order to care

for patients and people using health and social care services. This made clear that

they would take into account COVID-19 factors when assessing concerns about

professionals. These principles were re-affirmed in a further joint statement issued in

January 2021.

Coronavirus: Learning Disability

Justin Madders: [162640]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people with

moderate learning disabilities have died of covid-19 since 30 December 2020.


https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/spi-m-o-summary-of-modelling-on-easing-restrictions-3-february-2021



https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/spi-m-o-summary-of-modelling-on-scenario-for-easing-restrictions-6-february-2021



https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/spi-m-o-summary-of-modelling-on-roadmap-scenarios-17-february-2021





Helen Whately:

We do not hold data. NHS England and NHS Improvement publish weekly data about

the number of COVID-19 related deaths of people with a learning disability reported

to the Learning Disabilities Mortality Review programme by date of death, where

COVID-19 is suspected or confirmed as the cause of death. However, this data does

not identify the ‘severity’ of learning disability.

Coronavirus: Mental Health Services

Julian Sturdy: [108221]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will enable NHS Test and

Trace contact tracers to refer people who are self-isolating to a helpline if they are

experiencing mental health difficulties.

Helen Whately:

We have no plans to do so.

Contact tracers continue to direct individuals to COVID-19 guidance on mental

health, their general practitioner or NHS 111 for the appropriate support.

Coronavirus: Screening

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: [109579]


October 2020 to Question 97002, on Coronavirus: Screening, what assessment has he

made as to the effect of not having this data on (a) reducing the transmission of

coronavirus, (b) patient care, (c) the effectiveness of the test and trace programme and

(d) public confidence in the Government's coronavirus response.

Helen Whately:

We have made no such assessment.

Those being discharged from hospital following an inpatient admission should be

tested if they are being discharged to other care settings, such as care homes or

hospices. Patients being discharged to home are not routinely tested unless they are

thought to have symptoms appropriate for testing.

Neale Hanvey: [133241]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his

Department has made of the implications for its recent policy on mass testing

asymptomatic populations and using lateral flow tests for access to care homes of its

subsequent advice that swab testing people with no symptoms is not an accurate way of

screening the general population, as there is a real risk of giving false reassurance.

Widespread asymptomatic testing could undermine the value of testing, as there is a risk

of giving misleading results.

Helen Whately:

[Holding answer 11 January 2021]: Following the development of approved new

technologies, NHS Test and Trace launched small scale pilots to allow more




asymptomatic testing in populations where prevalence of COVID-19 was thought to

be higher or where individuals are more at risk. Extensive clinical evaluation has

been carried out on the lateral flow or swab tests. Evaluations from Public Health

England and the University of Oxford show these tests are accurate and sensitive

enough to be used in the community for screening and surveillance purposes. While

false positives or false negatives can never be completely ruled out, the likelihood of

a false positive remains low at approximately four in 1,000 people tested. Extensive

testing has shown lateral flow devices are suitable for use in care homes where they

can help to identify people who are the most likely to spread the virus further and

therefore support the prevention of transmission of the disease from staff and visitors.

Neil O'Brien: [138512]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of positive

covid-19 tests were false positive in the last four weeks.

Helen Whately:

[Holding answer 20 January 2021]: We do not hold data in the format requested.

Ms Harriet Harman: [146752]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people identifying as

(a) BAME and (b) non-BAME have (i) been tested for coronavirus and (ii) tested positive

for coronavirus in (A) Southwark, (B) London and (C) the UK.

Helen Whately:

The data is not held in the format requested.

Bell Ribeiro-Addy: [147058]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to

ensure that private nurseries and early year providers have access to covid-19 testing

kits and lateral flow testing kits.

Helen Whately:

[Holding answer 4 February 2021]: The Department is continuing to work closely with

colleagues across Government and local authorities to secure the most effective

approach to asymptomatic testing for the whole of the early years sector. Early years

staff, as critical workers, continue to have priority access to polymerase chain

reaction testing via the online portal, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-getting-tested

The Department is having ongoing discussions about providing testing via the

education testing programme as well as encouraging local authorities to consider

prioritising appropriate testing for staff in private, voluntary and independent settings

and childminders via the Community Testing Programme.

John Redwood: [154674]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the criteria for a

positive test for covid-19 has changed.







Helen Whately:

There has been no change in the criteria.

Sir Alan Campbell: [154789]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Government is

planning to introduce a second confirmatory PCR test before defining a positive covid-19

test result as a case as recommended by the WHO guidelines published on 20 January

2021.

Helen Whately:

The guidelines published by the World Health Organization were referring to ‘weak

positives’ or positive at the limit of detection. In the community, a repeat sample

would be requested and self-isolation advised pending the results of the second

sample. The majority of positives are clear positives and there is no need for second

test confirmation.

Bambos Charalambous: [155300]


Department has made of the cost of covid-19 testing for people who are required to travel

regularly to visit relatives in Europe.

Jo Churchill:

People should be staying at home unless they have a valid reason to travel. For

those facing significant financial hardship as a result of the testing charge, there will

be an opportunity to apply for a deferred repayment plan when booking. This is

available for individuals who receive income-related benefits and they will be required

to pay back the charge in 12 monthly instalments. All of these measures will be kept

under constant review, including the impact on individuals with family ties in other

countries.



February 2021 to Question 86684 on Coronavirus: Screening, if she will publish data on

the number of covid-19 tests that have been sent overseas for processing in each of the

last 12 months.

Helen Whately:

The information is not currently held in the format requested.

Chris Grayling: [163161]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what arrangements he has put

in place for the disposal or recycling of single use plastic swabs being used for covid-19

tests by the NHS.

Helen Whately:

Recycling is not currently an option for used plastic swabs and the associated lateral

flow device test kit. The preferred waste management route is via energy recovery.

However, landfill can be utilised if energy recovery is not available.






Marco Longhi: [121377]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to prioritise

people in (a) care homes and (b) BAME communities in the roll of a covid vaccine.

Jo Churchill:

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) are the independent

experts who advise the Government on which vaccine/s the United Kingdom should

use and provide advice on prioritisation at a population level. The JCVI have advised

that the first priorities for any COVID-19 vaccination programme should be the

prevention of COVID-19 mortality and the protection of health and social care staff

and systems.

For the first phase, the JCVI have advised that the vaccine be given to care home

residents and staff, as well as frontline health and social care workers, then to the

rest of the population in order of age and clinical risk factors. Included in this are

those with underlying health conditions, including severe and profound learning

disability, which put them at higher risk of serious disease and mortality.

There is clear evidence that certain black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) groups

have higher rates of infection, and higher rates of serious disease and mortality. The

reasons are multiple and complex.  There is no strong evidence that ethnicity by itself

or genetics is the sole explanation for observed differences in rates of severe illness

and deaths. What is clear is that certain health conditions are associated with

increased risk of serious disease, and these health conditions are often

overrepresented in certain BAME groups.  Prioritisation of people with underlying

health conditions will also provide for greater vaccination of BAME communities who

are disproportionately affected by such health conditions.

Andrew Rosindell: [132787]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an

assessment of the potential merits of including dental practitioners as frontline health

workers for the purposes of prioritisation in the roll out of the covid-19 vaccine.

Nadhim Zahawi:

Frontline healthcare staff eligible for prioritisation for the COVID-19 vaccine include

those who have frequent face-to-face clinical contact with patients and who are

directly involved in patient care in either secondary or primary care/community

settings. Doctors, dentists, midwives and nurses, paramedics and ambulance drivers,

pharmacists, optometrists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and

radiographers would be included in this group.

Sir Charles Walker: [135861]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made

of the potential merits of prioritising (a) paramedics, (b) healthcare professionals and (c)

other staff involved in the transporting of covid-19 patients across regions for covid-19

vaccination; and if he will make a statement.




Nadhim Zahawi:

[Holding answer 14 January 2021]: All frontline healthcare staff who are eligible for

seasonal influenza vaccination should be offered the vaccine in phase one of the

COVID-19 vaccination programme, including paramedics, healthcare professionals

and staff involved in the transporting of COVID-19 patients.

Mr Ben Bradshaw: [136435]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether there are systems in

place in local vaccine centres to inoculate non-priority groups in the event that doses of a

vaccine are about to expire but have not yet been administered.

Nadhim Zahawi:

No vaccines should be wasted. All vaccination centres should have a backup list

people in the cohorts currently being vaccinated, who can be called in case doses

would be wasted. If no members of the currently vaccinated cohorts are available, it

is recommended that members of the priority cohorts next in line be vaccinated.

In the unlikely case the above is not possible, and where the general practice can

demonstrate exceptional circumstances showing that it is clinically appropriate and

where resources would otherwise have been wasted, then individuals present on site

should be vaccinated based on clinical judgement. This is in line with the Enhanced

Service Specification for the COVID-19 vaccination programme 2020/21.

Thangam Debbonaire: [137966]


of the potential merits of ensuring that local vaccine centres are able to offer covid-19

vaccines at risk of expiring to non-priority groups.

Nadhim Zahawi:

No vaccines should be wasted. All vaccination centres should have a backup list

people in the cohorts currently being vaccinated, who can be called in case doses

would be wasted. If no members of the currently vaccinated cohorts are available, it

is recommended that members of the priority cohorts next in line be vaccinated.

In the unlikely case the above is not possible, and where the general practitioner

practice can demonstrate exceptional circumstances showing that it is clinically

appropriate and where resources would otherwise have been wasted, then

individuals present on site should be vaccinated based on clinical judgement. This is

in line with the Enhanced Service Specification for the COVID-19 vaccination

programme 2020/21.

Caroline Lucas: [141419]


ensure that information about covid-19 vaccination takes account of the needs of people

with sight loss; whether information sent to visually impaired persons is available in an

accessible format such as large print and braille; and what steps he has taken to ensure

vaccination centres have (a) clear signage, (b) good levels of lighting and (c) trained staff

to provide support to people with sight loss; and if he will make a statement.




Nadhim Zahawi:

Public Health England has published British Sign Language, braille, and large print

versions.

The national booking letters are sent in size 16 font as standard, as defined by RNIB

as large print. As well as providing an option to book on the NHS website, the

booking letters also provide 119 as an option. Booking information will be available in

braille, audio, larger print and easy read soon. Vaccination centres are subject to the

same standards to support people will accessibility needs including visual impairment

as all health care services. This includes ensuring good lighting and clear signage.

Bambos Charalambous: [156504]


Department has made of the effectiveness of the Pfizer BioNTech covid-19 vaccine when

there is a 12-week gap between the first and second dose for those aged over 80; and

what evidence that assessment is based on.

Nadhim Zahawi:

Public Health England is monitoring the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines and

has published early evidence on the efficacy of both the Pfizer/BioNTech and

Oxford/Astrazeneca vaccines. The evidence suggests that a single dose of either

vaccine is around 60 to 70% effective at preventing symptomatic disease in older

adults and around 80% effective at preventing hospitalisations. There is also

evidence that a single dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine is around 85% effective at

preventing deaths. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.03.01.21252652v1

Effectiveness of two doses with a 12-week gap will be monitored as more individuals

start to receive their second dose.

Kim Johnson: [161882]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether it is his policy that

people living with ME/CFS can be included in Priority Group 6 for COVID-19 vaccinations

in the context of that condition being classified as a neurological disease by NHS

England.

Nadhim Zahawi:

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation has not identified any robust

data to indicate that, as a group, persons with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic

fatigue syndrome are at higher risk of dying from COVID-19. Therefore this group is

not included as part of the prioritisation for phase one of the programme.

Alexander Stafford: [161885]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance has been issued

to clinicians to enable them to prescribe covid-19 vaccine to clinically extremely

vulnerable children under the age of 16.







To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance has been issued

to clinicians to enable them to prescribe the covid-19 vaccine to children under the age of

16 who suffer from cystic fibrosis.

Nadhim Zahawi:

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) currently advises that

only those children at very high risk of exposure and serious outcomes, such as older

children with severe neuro-disabilities that require residential care, should be offered

vaccination with either of the two currently available vaccines. The JCVI considers

that there is not usually a good case for immunisation as there is very limited safety

data on vaccination in adolescents, and almost no data on vaccination in younger

children so far. Following infection, almost all children will have asymptomatic

infection or mild disease.

The clinicians are advised to discuss the risks and benefits of vaccination with a

person with parental responsibility. However, the matter of whether to vaccinate a

child should ultimately be a decision to be made by the physician responsible for the

patient.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the medical trials testing

the efficacy and safety of the covid-19 vaccine in children and teenagers are planned to

report their results.

Nadhim Zahawi:

Through the joint call for COVID-19 research from the National Institute for Health

Research and UK Research and Innovation, we have awarded over £2 million

towards ‘nCoV: Rapid Clinical Development of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19’. This research

project aims to demonstrate vaccine safety and immunogenicity in adults, older

adults, and children, and is scheduled to finish in September 2021. A phase II study

to determine safety and immunogenicity in 300 children and adolescents aged

between 6 and 17 years old was also approved as a priority Urgent Public Health

COVID-19 study in February 2021 and is due to finish in May 2021.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) continues to review the

data on COVID-19 vaccines. Once data on the safety and efficacy of COVID-19

vaccines in adolescents and younger children becomes available, these will be

considered by the JCVI to inform deliberations on vaccination in these age groups.

Fleur Anderson: [162708]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish the scientific

basis for including people with severe asthma in the group 6 priority group of the covid-19

vaccine rollout programme.

Nadhim Zahawi:

[Holding answer 8 March 2021]: The Joint Committee on Vaccination and

Immunisation has concluded that only a subset of those with asthma are at clinically




high risk from COVID-19. This group are defined as adults with asthma who require

continuous or repeated use of systemic steroids or with previous exacerbations

requiring hospital admission and will be vaccinated as part of priority group six. An

individual with a more severe case of asthma may have been included in the clinically

extremely vulnerable group and would have received a letter from the National Health

Service or their general practitioner, in which case they will be vaccinated as part of

priority group four.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which priority group of the

covid-19 vaccination programme includes family members and carers of people living

with the clinically extremely vulnerable, including those with blood cancer.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has

to vaccinate people who live with people diagnosed as (a) clinically and (b) clinically

extremely vulnerable.

Nadhim Zahawi:

[Holding answer 10 March 2021]: Included in priority cohort six are those classed as

clinically vulnerable, as well as adult carers and younger adults in long stay

residential care settings. This also includes unpaid carers.

Consideration has been given to vaccination of household contacts of

immunosuppressed individuals. However, whilst initial findings are positive, there is

insufficient data on the impact the vaccines have on transmission to extend

prioritisation to wider family members and household contact at this stage. Once

sufficient evidence become available the Joint Committee on Vaccination and

Immunisation will consider next steps.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment his

Department has made of the efficacy of the coronavirus vaccines for the

immunocompromised or immunosuppressed, including blood cancer patients.

Nadhim Zahawi:

[Holding answer 10 March 2021]: Public Health England is monitoring the impact of

COVID-19 vaccines on a broad range of outcomes including symptomatic disease,

infection and hospitalisations.

Vaccine effectiveness assessments are reported regularly to the Joint Committee on

Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) to inform vaccine policy recommendations. This

includes assessment of vaccine effectiveness in immunocompromised individuals,

including blood cancer patients, using general practice electronic health record data.

Once sufficient evidence becomes available the JCVI will consider options for a

protection strategy for immunosuppressed individuals, including whether any specific

vaccine is preferred in this population.




Sarah Champion: [164485]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans

to publish standard operating procedures for local authorities to (a) identify and (b) log

unpaid carers to enable those carers to be vaccinated against covid-19.

Nadhim Zahawi:

The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for unpaid carers was published on 8

March 2021. The SOP draws on national and local sources for known carers, to help

identify and enable them to be invited quickly for a vaccination, as well as making

provision for those unpaid carers who may not already be known to the health and

social care system to come forward. The SOP is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2021/03/C1182-

sop-covid-19-vaccine-deployment-programme-unpaid-carers-jcvi-priority-cohort-6.pdf



March 2021 to Question 148827 on Coronavirus: Vaccination, what estimate he has

made of the number of patients who have been admitted to hospital with covid-19 since 1

January 2021 having received (a) one dose and (b) two doses of the (i) AstraZeneca and

(ii) Pfizer vaccines.

Edward Argar:

Public Health England has made no such estimate.

Department of Health and Social Care: Written Questions


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to answer

Question 118537 tabled by the hon. Member for Ellesmere Port and Neston on 20

November 2020.

Edward Argar:

I refer the hon. Member to the answer we gave to Question 118537 on 9 March.

Martyn Day: [165608]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to respond to

Question 134504, on Coronavirus: Vaccination, tabled on 8 January 2021 by the hon.

Member for Linlithgow and East Falkirk.

Edward Argar:

We take parliamentary scrutiny incredibly seriously and it is fundamentally important

that hon. Members are provided with accurate and timely information to enable them

to hold the Government to account. We are working rapidly to provide all Members

with accurate answers to their questions, as well as supporting the Government’s

response to the unprecedented challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The hon. Member’s question will be answered as soon as possible.


https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2021/03/C1182-sop-covid-19-vaccine-deployment-programme-unpaid-carers-jcvi-priority-cohort-6.pdf






Eating Disorders: Children and Young People

Scott Benton: [160831]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Access

and Waiting Time Standard for Children and Young People with an Eating Disorder, what

steps his Department is taking to ensure that those standards are being met in each

region in England.

Ms Nadine Dorries:

NHS England and NHS Improvement are working with regional teams as well as

community eating disorder services and commissioners to manage demand and

support teams. The data shows that community eating disorder services continue to

expand access to treatment to increasing number of children and young people and

their families.

On 5 March 2021, we announced £79 million of funding for to expand mental health

support for children and young people in 2021/22. This includes funding to treat an

additional 2,000 children and young people with eating disorders. This is in addition

to the new early intervention services to open in 18 sites across the country for 16 to

25 year olds, announced in November 2020.

Epilepsy: Pregnancy

Cat Smith: [161802]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has for extending

the MHRA and NHS Digital Medicines in Pregnancy Valproate Registry to include all anti-

epileptic drugs.

Cat Smith: [161804]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the

Commission on Human Medicines report, Epilepsy Medicines in Pregnancy, published on

7 January 2021, what plans he has to ensure greater awareness among health

professionals of the risk of physical and neurodevelopmental harm associated with the

use of many anti-epileptic drugs taken in pregnancy.

Ms Nadine Dorries:

The Registry is being built around routinely collected data of all women in England

who are taking National Health Service-prescribed valproate and identifies when they

are pregnant and accessing NHS care for that pregnancy. Work is now ongoing to

extend the Registry to include women in the devolved administrations. In the next

phase of development, the Registry will be extended to include all girls and women

prescribed an antiepileptic drug.

The conclusions of the Commission on Human Medicines’ safety review of the risk of

physical and neurodevelopmental harm in children of mothers who took epilepsy

medicines in pregnancy were communicated publicly to support decisions around the

best treatment options for girls and women. These communications were via the

Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s (MHRA) Drug Safety




Update bulletin, an accompanying public assessment report and a patient safety

leaflet. A news release and social media accompanied the publication alongside

email alerts that targeted relevant healthcare professionals, prescribing publications

and professional organisations. The MHRA is also working with the National Institute

for Health and Care Excellence, the Royal College of General Practitioners and the

Association of British Neurologists to update relevant clinical guidance to reflect the

findings of the review. The impact of this review and the uptake of communications

will be monitored.

Rosie Duffield: [161842]


to (a) collect and (b) disseminate data on individual women who have been prescribed

anti-epileptic drugs to enable investigation into the reasons for the teratogenicity of

valproate and other epilepsy medication.

Ms Nadine Dorries:

[Holding answer 8 March 2021]: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory

Agency and NHS Digital have been working to build a Registry to monitor the use of

valproate and compliance with the current regulatory position and to monitor any

children born to women on valproate. The Registry is being built around routinely

collected data on all women in England who are taking National Health Service-

prescribed valproate and identifies when they are pregnant and accessing NHS care

for that pregnancy. Work is now ongoing to extend the Registry to include women in

the devolved administrations. The Registry will also be extended to include all girls

and women prescribed an antiepileptic drug. This has been prioritised within the next

phase of development. Once available, this data will be accessible to support

additional research.

Rosie Duffield: [161844]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what additional steps have

been taken to ensure that medical professionals are equipped to provide awareness of

the risk of physical and neurodevelopmental harm to a baby associated with the use of

many anti-epileptic drugs taken in pregnancy, specifically when providing such

information via digital consultations and telemedicine.

Ms Nadine Dorries:

[Holding answer 8 March 2021]: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory

Agency (MHRA) ensures that information is available electronically to support

discussions between medical professionals and women and girls on the risk of

physical and neurodevelopmental harm to babies born to mothers who take epilepsy

medicines during pregnancy. Healthcare professionals have been reminded of their

responsibility to inform women and girls of the risks of valproate specifically through

letters from the United Kingdom’s Chief Medical Officers and Chief Pharmaceutical

Officers and by articles in the MHRA’s electronic bulletin Drug Safety Update.

On 6 May 2020 the MHRA published guidance for specialists to support adherence to

the pregnancy prevention requirements for women of childbearing potential taking



valproate during the pandemic, particularly patients who are shielding due to other

health conditions. This included guidance on annual review of patients using digital

consultations.

Hospital Beds

Philip Davies: [157048]


permanently increase bed capacity in the NHS.

Edward Argar:

There are currently no plans to permanently increase bed capacity across the

National Health Service. However, we continue to work closely with the NHS on

capacity planning to ensure we have sufficient beds to meet future demand. Our

hospitals continue to flex their bed capacity as part of planning to meet the demand

from both elective and emergency streams and we are working hard with trusts to

maximise the number of open beds.

Hospitals: Coronavirus

Emma Hardy: [164613]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when people will be able to visit

family members in hospital as covid-19 restrictions are eased; and if he will publish

guidance on those visits.

Edward Argar:

The current hospital visiting guidance, last updated on 13 October 2020, allows

people to visit their family members in hospital in a COVID-19 secure way. This

guidance is published at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/publication/visitor-guidance/

NHS England and NHS Improvement are in the process of updating this guidance

and a revised version will be published in due course.

Hospitals: Fire Prevention


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the answer of 6

January 2021 to Question 110152, on Hospitals: Fire Prevention, what assessment he

has made of the (a) fire safety defects and (b) cost of repair for the nine NHS buildings

identified with Aluminium Cladded Material (ACM).

Edward Argar:

Of the nine National Health Service buildings that were identified to potentially have

Aluminium Cladded Material (ACM), it was found that one did not have ACM, four

have had their ACM removed, two sites are currently in the process of removing their

cladding and one has some ACM remaining but due to how the building is used the

local Fire and Rescue Services (FRS) have agreed it can remain. The assessment of






the potential fire safety defects of the remaining building is currently being finalised

with the local FRS.

The Department has committed £10 million to deliver the removal and replacement of

ACM across the NHS. To date, capital funding has been provided to all NHS trusts

with ACM to pay for its removal, totalling £6.24 million.

Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review

Cat Smith: [162652]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what criteria were used to

determine the membership of the Patient Reference Group that will consider the

recommendations in the report of the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety

Review.

Ms Nadine Dorries:

The criteria for membership was set out in a recruitment pack made available to all

applicants and included:

- Have a personal experience or understand the context of the Review and the

content of the report from the perspective of patients, carers or families;

- Are committed to improving the experience of patients;

- Want to engage with others on the group and representatives of the Department to

support the implementation of the Review;

- Can consider complex and emotive issues in a balanced and sensitive way; and

- Have good communication skills and want to build strong working relationships with

the rest of the group.

Infected Blood Inquiry

Dame Diana Johnson: [163176]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the Government plans to

announce what progress has been made with the compensation framework review in

relation to the contaminated blood inquiry.

Ms Nadine Dorries:

[Holding answer 9 March 2021]: The Government remains committed to considering

a potential framework for compensation, as well as actions to address disparities in

financial and non-financial support for people infected and affected across the United

Kingdom.

Officials at the Cabinet Office are working with colleagues in HM Treasury, the

Department of Health and Social Care and health departments in the devolved

administrations on this review.



IQVIA: Redundancy



of the potential effect of redundancies at Iqvia on the UK's ability to take swab samples

for covid-19 testing.

Helen Whately:

The COVID-19 Infection Survey is run by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in

collaboration with the Department, the University of Oxford, the University of

Manchester, Public Health England, the Wellcome Trust, IQVIA and the UK

Biocentre. IQVIA are contracted by the ONS to deliver the required services for the

COVID-19 Infection Survey. The ONS will continue to ensure targets for swab tests

are reached, as required by the Key Performance Indicators and Service Levels

agreed within the ONS/IQVIA contract, and ensure performance maintained at the

agreed level for the duration of the contract.

Laboratories: Contracts

Rachael Maskell: [155192]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the planned duration of

the contracts with providers will be for each of the megalabs announced by his

Department.

Helen Whately:

The Leamington Spa laboratory will be run by the Department which will hold supply

contracts for resourcing, equipment, machinery, facilities and waste management.

These supply contracts will typically run for a 12 month minimum period with potential

to extend.

We have paused development work on the second laboratory in Scotland until we

have further detailed projections on long-term testing demand.

Learning Disability: General Practitioners

Christian Matheson: [158082]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of

the number of adults with learning disabilities who are not identified as having that

disability on the GP register.

Helen Whately:

We have not made a formal estimate.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether it is his policy to

ensure that the Leeds Teaching Hospital scheme for the new Children's Hospital and

Adult building will be completed by 2025.





Edward Argar:

A national programme has been established to deliver the Government’s commitment

to build 40 new hospitals by 2030. The programme is working collaboratively with the

new hospital projects, including advanced schemes like Leeds. Whilst we are unable

to comment on individual project timings, which may be subject to change under this

programmatic approach, the programme delivery timetable will ensure that all of the

new hospitals, including Leeds, are completed by 2030 and drive maximum value for

taxpayers’ money.

Lymphoedema: Medical Treatments

Alberto Costa: [155163]


Department has made of the potential merits of revising the treatment approach for

lymphedema to help ensure people with that condition can access long term and

preventative treatments.

Edward Argar:

No specific assessment has been made.

Members: Correspondence

Robert Largan: [165703]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to respond to

the enquiry from the hon. Member for High Peak of 24 November 2020, reference

RL15578.

Edward Argar:

We replied to the hon. Member on 10 March 2021.

Mental Health Services: Coronavirus

Nadia Whittome: [160895]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is

taking to support the mental health needs of people who have lost a loved one due to

covid-19.

Ms Nadine Dorries:

Since March 2020, the Government has given over £10.2 million to mental health

charities, including bereavement support charities, to support adults and children

struggling with their mental wellbeing due to the impact of COVID-19. This includes

funding for bereavement support helplines, counselling and signposting services to

ensure that grieving families and individuals who have lost loved ones have access to

the bereavement support they need, when they need it. We continue to take a cross-

Government approach to assess what is needed to provide support to bereaved

families and individuals.




Mental Health Services: Finance

Daniel Zeichner: [160684]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to provide

further details regarding allocation of the £500 million of additional funding for mental

health services in 2021-22 announced in the Spending Review 2020.

Ms Nadine Dorries:

An announcement is expected to be made imminently giving further details about

how this will be spent.

Mental Health: Discrimination

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan: [157230]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress his Department

has made on tackling mental health stigma and discrimination following its announcement

in October 2020 that it will stop funding Time to Change on 31 March 2021.

Ms Nadine Dorries:

The Department is working with Time to Change on developing regional community-

led hubs to secure its legacy. More widely, we are ensuring that work to address

mental health inequalities, stigma and discrimination remains a priority across

Government. Every Government department, as well as major corporations, has

made a Time to Change Pledge to continue challenging mental health stigma and the

inequalities experienced by people with mental illness.

NHS Test and Trace


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the report

entitled The government’s approach to test and trace in England, interim report,

published by the NAO in December 2020, if he will publish the business case submitted

to this Department for NHS Test and Trace.

Helen Whately:

[Holding answer 11 February 2021]: The Department will not be publishing the

internal business case as it relates to the formulation of Government policy.

Parents: Coronavirus

Rachael Maskell: [145066]


of the potential merits of a parental isolation grant for parents who are having to look after

a child who is having to isolate during the covid-19 outbreak.

Helen Whately:

The Government continues to assess all elements of its COVID-19 response,

including the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme. The scheme will continue

into the summer and will be expanded to cover parents who are unable to work





because they are caring for a child who is self-isolating. The funding made available

for local authorities will be increased to £20 million per month. There will also be

more funding to help local authorities ensure people self-isolating have access to

practical support, such as food deliveries or help with their caring responsibilities and

support for wellbeing.

Randox Laboratories: Coronavirus


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the total value of contracts

awarded to Randox in 2020 was to help the Government’s response to covid-19.

Jo Churchill:

[Holding answer 24 February 2021]: The total value of contracts awarded to Randox

in 2020 was £479.5 million.

Schools: Coronavirus

Layla Moran: [147036]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many lateral flow tests

have been bought for schools in (a) 2020 and (b) 2021 to date.

Helen Whately:

To date the Department has issued at least 32.5 million lateral flow device test kits to

secondary schools and colleges and at least 15.6 million kits to primary schools and

nurseries.

Social Services: Finance

Stuart Anderson: [163309]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his timeframe is for

bringing forward legislative proposals to reform the funding of adult social care.

Helen Whately:

We are committed to bringing forward a proposal for social care this year to ensure

that everyone is treated with dignity and respect and to find long term solutions for

one of the biggest challenges we face as a society.

Surgical Mesh Implants


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to his Answer of 2

March 2021 to Question 156529, on Surgical Mesh Implants, whether he has plans to

make an assessment of the reason for the discrepancy between the proportion of

patients readmitted within 30 days of (a) transvaginal tape and (b) transobturator tape

procedures contained in the Hospital Episode Statistics and the British Society of

Urogynaecology databases, as highlighted in the Royal College of Obstetricians and





Gynaecologists' Project Report, Hospital Episode Statistics as a source of information on

safety and quality in gynaecology to support revalidation, published in May 2012.

Ms Nadine Dorries:

[Holding answer 9 March 2021]: There are currently no plans to make an

assessment.

Travel: Quarantine


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reasons the hotel

covid-19 quarantine policy only applies to people travelling from 33 countries.

Jo Churchill:

[Holding answer 22 February 2021]: The managed quarantine measures apply to

people travelling from the 33 ‘red list’ countries as these countries are judged to pose

a risk to the United Kingdom from variants of concern and inbound international

travel. The decision to add and remove countries from the red list is informed by the

latest scientific data and public health advice from a world-leading range of experts.

The list of red list countries is kept consistently under review.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether there are any

exemptions from hotel quarantine requirements for frail elderly people who need social

care support.

Jo Churchill:

[Holding answer 24 February 2021]: There are very limited exemptions to the

requirement to book and enter managed quarantine if a person has been in a ‘red list’

country at any point in the 10 days prior to their arrival into England. These

exemptions are set out on GOV.UK at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-travellers-exempt-

from-uk-border-rules/coronavirus-covid-19-travellers-exempt-from-uk-border-rules

Those with concerns about being in a quarantine hotel on health or wellbeing

grounds, can seek an assessment by a medical professional after check-in. People

needing to be exempted from managed quarantine on medical grounds are assessed

on a case by case basis, from a clinical assessment.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether there are any

exemptions from hotel quarantine requirements for people with mental health conditions.

Jo Churchill:

There are very limited exemptions to the requirement to book and enter managed

quarantine if a person has been in a ‘red list’ country at any point in the 10 days prior

to their arrival into England. These exemptions are available at the following link:



https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-travellers-exempt-from-uk-border-rules/coronavirus-covid-19-travellers-exempt-from-uk-border-rules




https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-travellers-exempt-

from-uk-border-rules

If someone has concerns about being in a quarantine hotel on health or wellbeing

grounds, they can seek an assessment by a medical professional after check-in.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he has taken to

ensure people arriving in the UK from red list countries are not mixing with people arriving

from other countries (a) as they queue for and clear passport control and (b) elsewhere in

UK airports.

Jo Churchill:

We have worked closely with airports to ensure the arrangements made to deal with

arrivals are appropriate at each site where the managed quarantine service is

operating. For those arriving at a designated port, we have introduced special

measures including separating arrivals from ‘red list’ locations in the arrivals hall.

Should this not be possible for any reason, strict social distancing measures must still

be adhered to throughout the airport. Red list arrivals are met by security officials and

escorted to baggage reclaim, before taking pre-booked transportation to their

quarantine hotel.

Owen Thompson: [155209]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government

plans to take to determine the appropriateness of hotels for use as Managed Quarantine

Facilities.

Jo Churchill:

[Holding answer 24 February 2021]: We are working closely with the hospitality

sector providing the quarantine accommodation and continue to monitor the

operation of the managed quarantine scheme to ensure it remains appropriate and

can meet future demand.

Stephen Morgan: [155349]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what support he is providing to

people who need to return to the UK from a country on the travel ban list and who cannot

afford the £1750 quarantine package.

Jo Churchill:

For those facing significant financial hardship as a result of this charge, there will be

an opportunity to apply for a deferred repayment plan when booking. This is available

if they are already receiving income-related benefits and they will be required to pay

back the charge in 12 monthly instalments.


To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which companies are involved

in each element of the mandatory border quarantine scheme.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-travellers-exempt-from-uk-border-rules







Jo Churchill:

[Holding answer 25 February 2021]: We have contracted with (Corporate Travel

Management) to provide hotels and transport. The security providers are G4S, Mitie

and Corps Security.

Youth Services: Mental Health Services



to increase early mental health support for young people in community settings; if he will

make it his policy to deliver a network of open-access drop-in mental health hubs for

young people up to age 25 with low-level mental health needs delivered through the NHS

in partnership with local authorities, the voluntary sector and digital providers; and if he

will make a statement.

Ms Nadine Dorries:

There are currently no plans to deliver such a network of hubs nationally. Plans for

such interventions are for local commissioning and clinical determination.

However, we are committed to implementing the proposals in the children and young

people’s mental health Green Paper, including mental health support teams (MHSTs)

in schools and colleges. By 2023/24, at least an additional 345,000 children and

young people aged 0-25 years old will be able to access National Health Service

funded mental health services and school or college-based MHSTs.

MHSTs will provide a core offer of evidence-based mental health support, but clinical

commissioning groups will have flexibility to design teams according to local need

and existing provision. We expect them to do so in partnership with schools and

colleges, local authorities and other local bodies.

HOME OFFICE

Biometrics: Bristol


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans her Department has

to extend the provision of free biometric enrolment services to include a Core Service

Point in the City of Bristol.

Kevin Foster:

UK Visa and Citizenship Application Service (UKVCAS) centres are run by Sopra

Steria Ltd (SSL) on behalf of UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI). SSL operate a core

service point, offering free appointments in Cardiff Bay, approximately one hour away

from Bristol. SSL also operate an enhanced service point in Bristol, the Kingswood

enhanced service point, where customers can choose to enrol their biometrics and

avail themselves of the other services included within the additional charge.



It is not economically viable to have a core UKVCAS site offering free appointments

in every region. When the UKVCAS service was incepted, SSL undertook market

research to identify service point locations; they found c.62% of customers will, on

average, have to travel less than 25 miles to visit a core service centre, with 78%

travelling less than 50 miles.

Whilst there are no immediate plans to open a UKVCAS core site in Bristol, service

point locations are not fixed and are designed to evolve with demand. Where SSL

find there is excess demand for appointments, they work to increase capacity at

existing sites and open new sites in the region to ensure all customers are able to

book an appointment. Since the start of the contract, several new sites have opened

to meet customer demand.

Hate Crime


To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 25

February 2021 to Question 156232 on hate crime, subjectivity and equality before the

law, whether the people conducting the review of hate crime legislation will have regard

to the content of John Stuart Mill's essay On Liberty; what the principles underlying that

review are; and if she will make a statement.

Victoria Atkins:

The Law Commission is conducting the hate crime review. The terms of reference for

the review ask it to review the adequacy and parity of protection offered by the law

relating to hate crime and to make recommendations for its reform.

This includes:

• Reviewing the current range of specific offences and aggravating factors in

sentencing, and making recommendations on the most appropriate models to ensure

that the criminal law provides consistent and effective protection from conduct

motivated by hatred of protected groups or characteristics.

• Reviewing the existing range of protected characteristics, identifying gaps in the

scope of the protection currently offered and making recommendations to promote a

consistent approach.

Full details can be found at:

https://www.lawcom.gov.uk/project/hate-crime/

In the consultation that it issued in relation to this review, the Law Commission noted

John Stewart Mill’s essay in relation to discussing the principles of free expression.

Home Office: Public Expenditure

Nick Thomas-Symonds: [164532]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason the net cash

requirement allocated to her Department for 2020-21 has exceeded the amount provided





by the Main Estimate by £1.25 billion; and if she will provide a breakdown of the spending

areas the additional funding has been allocated to.

Kevin Foster:

A rationale for the increase can be found in the 2020-21 Net Cash Requirement

shown in the Supplementary Estimate.


Martin Docherty-Hughes: [160683]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to answer the

letter of 3 December 2020 from the hon. Member for West Dunbartonshire relating to Mrs

Gurpreet Singh Johal of Dumbarton.

Kevin Foster:

A response was sent on 10 March 2021.

Refugees: Resettlement

Anne McLaughlin: [164522]

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much funding she has

allocated to refugee resettlement for 2021-22.

Chris Philp:

The first 12 months of a refugee's resettlement costs are funded by central

government using the Official Development Assistance budget which amounts to

£8,520 per person. For years 2-5 local authorities receive £12,000 per person overall;

tapering from £5,000 in year 2, to £3,700 in year 3, to £2,300 in year 4 and £1,000 in

year 5. Funding is also made available for healthcare, education, and to help local

authorities with exceptional costs such as social care and housing adaptations.

This tariff funding will be made available to all local authorities who resettle refugees

during 2021-22. The number of refugees resettled next year will be dependent on

local authority capacity as we recover from the pandemic.

HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Buildings: Insulation


To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will

place in the Library a copy of the video of the fire test commissioned by the Victorian

Building Authority in Australia through a National Association of Testing Authorities

accredited laboratory on a rendered external wall system in June 2020 to test the fire

spread performance of EPS (with fire retardant) in Exterior Insulation Finishing Systems

(EIFS) on Class 2-9 buildings of Type A or Type B construction.




Christopher Pincher:

We do not have a copy of the video for the fire test commissioned by the Victorian

Building Authority in Australia on a rendered external wall system in June 2020.

Mike Amesbury: [164615]

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what

estimate he has made of the number of qualified chartered fire engineers that can

undertake an EWS1 survey.


There are 212 chartered fire engineers registered with the Institution of Fire

Engineers and based in the United Kingdom.

A wider group of professionals can complete EWS1 forms. The Royal Institution of

Chartered Surveyors advises that the EWS1 form must be completed by a fully

qualified member of a relevant professional body within the construction industry with

sufficient expertise to identify the relevant materials within the external wall cladding

and attachments.

To speed up valuations where EWS1 forms are justified, the Government is providing

nearly £700,000 funding to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors to train up to

2,000 more assessors in 2021. This training commenced in January and there are

over 500 candidates on the course.

Funerals: Judaism


To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether

the rules which will allow 30 people to attend a funeral will also apply to the formal

consecration of a tombstone as part of observance of Jewish faith traditions.

Eddie Hughes:

The Roadmap out of lockdown published on 22 February set out the government’s

four-step roadmap by which Covid-19 restrictions would be lifted. The Jewish Stone

Setting ceremony comes under the rules governing wakes and other post funeral

commemorative events. As such, six people are permitted to attend such a service at

present. When we reach step 2 (not before 12 April) that limit will increase to 15,

while at Step 3 (not before 17 May) it will rise again to 30.

Help to Buy Scheme: Females



proportion of Help to Buy loans were given to women in each year since that scheme's

introduction.


Data on gender of customers is not collected in the operation of the Help to Buy:

Equity Loan programme.




Housing Infrastructure Fund

Kelly Tolhurst: [164533]


plans he has to review the progress of projects supported by the Housing Infrastructure

Fund.



plans he has to ensure projects supported under the Housing Infrastructure Fund are

completed on time and to budget.


Comprehensive governance and assurance systems are in place both in my

Department and at Homes England to manage delivery. Further expert support is

provided by the Infrastructure and Projects Authority.

Levelling Up Fund

Steve Reed: [164488]


publish the metrics for the determination of bids for funding under the Levelling Up Fund;

and whether the metrics of the determination of those bids will include a scoring system.



publish all correspondence between his office and the HM Treasury on the priority list for

capacity funding under the Levelling Up Fund.


To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how

many iterations of the priority list for capacity funding under the Levelling Up Fund were

developed; and whether any areas were added to that list by Ministers.

Eddie Hughes:

As set out in the prospectus published last week, the index used for the Levelling Up

Fund places areas into category one, two or three based on the local area’s need for

economic recovery and growth, improved transport connectivity, and regeneration.

We will shortly publish further detail on the methodology used to calculate the index.

Levelling Up Fund: Finance

Dan Carden: [164614]

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when

the Government plans to publish the selection methodology for the allocation of funding

under the Levelling Up Fund.







Eddie Hughes:

As set out in the prospectus published last week, the index used for the Levelling Up

Fund places areas into category one, two or three based on the local area’s need for

economic recovery and growth, improved transport connectivity, and regeneration.

We will shortly publish further detail on the methodology used to calculate the index.

Local Plans



steps he is taking to support local authorities to complete their Local Plans.


On 19 January 2021, a Written Statement was made in the House of Commons

which set out the importance of maintaining progress to get up to date local plans in

place by December 2023. The Written Statement also made it clear that I would

consider contacting those authorities where delays to plan-making have occurred to

discuss the reasons why this has happened and actions to be undertaken. I have

subsequently contacted a number of authorities where delays have occurred, and

meetings are currently taking place with them in order to identify what support the

Department can offer to help ensure that those areas can benefit from an up to date

plan as soon as possible.



criteria local authorities are assessed against before his Department decides to intervene

in the Local Plan process.


The local plan intervention criteria were confirmed in the 2017 Housing White Paper,

and subsequently through a Written Statement in the House of Commons on 16

November 2017: • the least progress in plan-making had been made; • policies in

plans had not been kept up to date; • there was higher housing pressure; and •

intervention would have the greatest effect in accelerating local plan production

We also made clear that decisions on intervention would also be informed by the

wider planning context in each area (specifically, the extent to which authorities are

working cooperatively to put strategic plans in place, and the potential effect that not

having a plan has on neighbourhood planning activity)

In August 2020, we consulted on a set of revised intervention criteria through the

Planning White Paper: • the level of housing requirement in the area; • the planning

context of the area, including any co-operation to get plans in place across local

planning authority boundaries; • any exceptional circumstances presented by the

local planning authority



Consideration is currently being given to consultation responses received, and any

changes to the criteria will be considered alongside the wider proposals for planning

reform as set out in the White Paper.


Ms Harriet Harman: [163142]

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when he

plans to reply to the joint letter from the hon. Members for (a) Camberwell and Peckham,

(b) Bermondsey and Old Southwark, (c) Dulwich and West Norwood, and Cllr Kieron

Williams, Leader of Southwark Council and Cllr Evelyn Akoto, Cabinet Member for Public

Health and Community Safety, sent electronically on 27 January 2021, on Government

funding for local covid-19 vaccine advice.

Eddie Hughes:

A response to the letter was issued on 19 February and subsequent to this an

electronic copy was sent on 8 March.

Rosie Cooper: [164403]

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when he

plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for West Lancashire of 18 January

2021 on the closure of the Help to Buy scheme, reference ZA55197.


We issued a response to the Hon Member on 9 March 2021.

Towns Fund and UK Community Renewal Fund


To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the

timeframe is for his Department's publication of the selection methodology it used to

allocate funding through the (a) Towns Fund and (b) Community Renewal Fund.

Eddie Hughes:

In selecting towns for the Towns Fund, Ministers considered levels of deprivation

alongside other factors including skills, employment levels and exposure to economic

shocks. The government has published details of the selection process here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/towns-fund-selection-summary-of-

accounting-officer-advice/towns-fund-selection-process-summary-of-accounting-

officer-ao-advice

With regards to the UK Community Renewal Fund, as set out in the prospectus

published on 3 March, we have identified 100 priority places based on an index of

economic resilience across Great Britain which measures productivity, household

income, unemployment, skills and population density. We are committed to

transparency and a methodological note will be published shortly.




UK Community Renewal Fund



publish the formula for determining which areas will have access to capacity funding

under the Community Renewal Fund.

Eddie Hughes:

As set out in the prospectus published on 3 March, we have identified 100 priority

places based on an index of economic resilience across Great Britain which

measures productivity, household income, unemployment, skills and population

density.

The lead authority of each of the 100 priority places will receive capacity funding to

help them invite bids locally and appraise these bids. Each lead authority will receive

£20,000 per priority place. This funding can be incurred from April 2021 for staff or

other resources needed to coordinate and appraise bids. It will be paid to lead

authorities in the summer and will be paid regardless of whether bids are successful.

We are committed to transparency and a methodological note will be published

explaining how the index of economic resilience was developed.

A portion of the Community Renewal Fund will be reserved for capacity funding, to be

allocated to local partners for preparation for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. This

will be made available when the long-term allocation profile for the UK Shared

Prosperity Fund is published later this year. We will also set out details on how this

capacity funding will be distributed at this time. The allocation of capacity funding

under the UK Community Renewal Fund does not pre-determine the allocation

approach for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

JUSTICE

Magistrates: Retirement


To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the answer of the Under Secretary

of State to the Rt Hon Member for New Forest East on 20 January 2021, Official Report,

col 980, on reinstating recently retired magistrates, if he will make it his policy to permit

people aged 70 or over to resume their duties if this would enable them to serve for a

significant further period prior to reaching any newly-raised maximum age for magistrates

to continue in post.

Chris Philp:

On 8 March 2021 the government announced its intention to legislate to increase the

mandatory retirement age for judicial office holders, including magistrates, to 75. The

legislation will include a transitional provision to enable retired magistrates to apply to

return to the bench, subject to business need. The process by which such

applications are to be made and considered will be set out in due course.



Prison Officers: Pay

Liz Saville Roberts: [164558]

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 2 March 2021 to

Question 158908, Prison Officers: Pay, if he will place a redacted copy of that Equality

Impact Assessment in the Library.



Question 158908, Prison Officers: Pay, what the scope of the legal advice contained in

that Equality Impact Assessment is.



Question 158908, Prison Officers: Pay, what risks involving the impact of rejecting the

recommendation on (a) eliminating unlawful discrimination and (b) advancing equality of

opportunity were identified in that Equality Impact Assessment.



Question 158908, Prison Officers: Pay, what assessment he has made of the potential

effect of imposing a pay freeze on prison officers earning more than £24,000 on (a)

unlawful discrimination and (b) advancing equality of opportunity.

Alex Chalk:

In line with the practice of successive administrations, the Government does not

routinely publish Equality Impact Assessments (EIA). The scope of the legal advice in

the EIA was surrounding options that the Department was considering as part of the

its decision-making regarding prison officer pay and allowances. These options were

ultimately not pursued as they were not cost viable.

The EIA recognised that rejecting recommendation 3 from the PSPRB 20/21 report

would adversely impact staff on Fair & Sustainable (F&S) terms and conditions, who

(as per the data published on 2 March) are a more diverse staffing group than their

counterparts on closed-grades terms. The Government’s consideration of

recommendation 3 took this into account, alongside other factors such as the

exceptional costs associated with implementing this recommendation, the impact on

the overall pay structure, and the changing labour market conditions due to the

exceptional economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Department identified as part of the EIA that the adverse impact of rejecting

recommendation 3 would be addressed by efforts to close the pay differential

between staff on closed-grades terms and those on F&S terms. This remains a key

component of the Department’s longer-term pay strategy.

The Government’s Public Sector pay restraint policy for the current (2021/22)

financial year was announced by the Chancellor on the 25 November 2020. He

detailed that pay rises in the public sector will be restrained and targeted, and that





anyone earning less than £24,000 will be protected and will receive a minimum uplift

of £250, or the National Living Wage (whichever is the higher) should they qualify. An

equalities impact assessment was undertaken as part of the Chancellor’s decision

and it did not find that the implementation of public sector pay restraint will result in

any unjustified differential impact to individuals with protected characteristics. It can

be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/2020-spending-review-

public-sector-pay-policy-full-impact-assessment.

The national equivalent basic pay of Band 3 prison staff on F&S terms (our largest

staffing group), as well as both F&S and closed grade Band 2 operational support

grades is below the protected earnings floor of £24,000. The Department’s proposals

on how the uplift should apply to prison staff will be published and submitted to the

PSPRB for their consideration shortly.



Question 158908, Prison Officers: Pay, what assessment he has made of the length of

time required to close the gap between prison officers on modernised / Fair & Sustainable

terms and conditions and prison officers on closed-grades terms and conditions.

Alex Chalk:

It is the responsibility of the Home Office and the respective Pay Review Body to

reach decision on police officer pay. It is assumed the question is misworded, and the

answer is provided on this assumption.

Closing the pay differential between prison officers on modernised / Fair &

Sustainable (F&S) terms and conditions and prison officers on closed-grades terms

and conditions is dependent on a number of factors including public sector pay policy,

affordability and economic factors (as Fair and Sustainable is designed to be

responsive to external labour markets), and the recommendations made by the

Prison Service Pay Review Body (PSPRB). For this reason, it is not possible to

commit to a set timescale at which the differential will be closed.

While it is not possible to make progress on closing the gap between prison officers

on F&S terms and conditions and prison officers on closed-grades terms and

conditions in the context of the current pay pause, this remains a key component of

the Department’s pay strategy and will be a focus once the central Government pay

pause has been lifted.

Ben Lake: [164591]


Question 158908, Prison Officers: Pay, what matters were identified in the equality

impact assessment that informed the effect of rejecting recommendation three on (a)

unlawful discrimination and (b) advancing equality of opportunity.

Alex Chalk:

The 20/21 Prison Service Pay Review Body report was received on 5 June 2020 and

included a recommendation, recommendation 3, to uplift the pay of Band 3 prison



staff on modernised terms and conditions by £3,000. This recommendation was not

accepted by the Government. An Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) was conducted

and considered in reaching the decision to reject recommendation 3.

The EIA recognised that rejecting recommendation 3 from the PSPRB 20/21 report

would adversely impact staff on Fair & Sustainable (F&S) terms and conditions, who

(as per the data published on 2 March) are a more diverse staffing group than their

counterparts on closed-grades terms.

The Government’s consideration of recommendation 3 took this into account,

alongside other factors such as the exceptional costs associated with implementing

this recommendation, the impact on the overall pay structure, and the changing

labour market conditions due to the exceptional economic impacts of the COVID-19

pandemic.

The Department identified as part of the EIA that the adverse impact of rejecting

recommendation 3 would be addressed by efforts to close the pay differential

between staff on closed-grades terms and those on F&S terms. This remains a key

component of the Department’s longer-term pay strategy.

Prisons: Visits

Kerry McCarthy: [164385]

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the update posted on

www.gov.uk on 23 February 2021, what steps he is taking to allow prison visits to

resume.

Alex Chalk:

Social visits to prisons are currently suspended given the risks from Covid-19 and the

need to minimise non-essential travel at this time. We continue to support social visits

in compassionate circumstances, including visits to children in custody.

In line with the community position, over the coming weeks and months we will

support establishments to ease some of the restrictions currently in place, guided by

public health advice and as it becomes safe to do so. To support the delivery of

greater regime activity, significant additional measures have been put in place to

reduce the risk of Covid-19 as much as possible. The mitigations we have introduced

mean that we are now much better prepared for managing Covid-19 in prisons.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Free Zones: Northern Ireland


To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with (a)

Cabinet colleagues and (b) the Northern Ireland Executive on a freeport designation for

Northern Ireland.



Mr Robin Walker:

Freeports will be national hubs for international trade, innovation and commerce,

regenerating communities across the UK; attracting new businesses, spreading jobs,

investment and opportunity to towns and cities across the country.

We want to ensure that the whole of the UK can benefit, and we are working with HM

Treasury and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, as well

as working constructively with the Northern Ireland Executive, to establish at least

one Freeport in Northern Ireland as soon as possible.

Terrorism: Northern Ireland


To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent progress the Government

has been made on bringing forward legislative proposals on legacy issues in Northern

Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Robin Walker:

The Government has been clear that it will bring forward legislation to address the

legacy of the troubles that focuses on reconciliation, delivers for victims, and ends the

cycle of investigations.

We continue to engage with victims groups and civic society stakeholders, as well as

the Irish Government and Northern Ireland parties in order to find a way forward as

soon as possible. We will provide further details in due course.

PARLIAMENTARY WORKS SPONSOR BODY

Palace of Westminster: Repairs and Maintenance

Dehenna Davison: [163305]

To ask the Right hon. Member for East Hampshire, representing the Parliamentary Works

Sponsor Body, what advice the Sponsor Body has sought from (a) the Infrastructure and

Projects Authority, (b) HM Treasury and (c) the National Audit Office on the costs of the

Restoration and Renewal Programme and ensuring value for money.

Damian Hinds:

The Parliamentary Works Sponsor Body has good working relationships with the

Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA), HM Treasury and the National Audit Office

(NAO). As the Sponsor Body transitioned out of Parliament, where it existed in

shadow form, to becoming a formal statutory body, advice was sought from the IPA

on good practice and lessons learned in areas such as assurance and governance.

The relationship with the IPA continues to be positive and the Sponsor Body has

recently worked with the IPA to identify independent reviewers for a forthcoming

Gateway Review.

Productive discussions continue with HM Treasury regarding the Sponsor Body's

preparation of the Outline Business Case for the Restoration and Renewal



Programme and, under the terms of the Parliamentary Buildings (Restoration and

Renewal) Act 2019, HM Treasury also has a role to provide advice to the

Parliamentary Works Estimates Commission on the Sponsor Body's Estimate for

each financial year prior to that Estimate being laid in the House of Commons.

Both the IPA and HM Treasury contributed to the recent Strategic Review via

discussions as part of the Review's Challenge Panel.

The NAO published a review of the R&R Programme in April 2020, highlighting the

vital and urgent need to restore the Houses of Parliament. That report contained a

number of helpful recommendations which the Sponsor Body accepted in full. The

Sponsor Body welcomes further reviews by the NAO on behalf of Parliament over the

coming years to ensure value for money is delivered for the taxpayer. Both the

Sponsor Body and Delivery Authority will also continue to work with the NAO to apply

lessons learned from NAO reviews of other projects and programmes as well as in

relation to the NAO's role as the external auditor for the Sponsor Body and Delivery

Authority.

Dehenna Davison: [163307]

To ask the Right hon. Member for East Hampshire, representing the Parliamentary Works

Sponsor Body, whether the Sponsor Body has made an assessment of the potential

effect of the completion of ongoing fire safety works on the cost of the restoration and

renewal of the Palace of Westminster.

Damian Hinds:

The Sponsor Body is aware of ongoing fire safety works to the Palace of

Westminster. The Outline Business Case will take account of completed works,

including fire safety works, when proposing cost estimates for the parliamentary

building works under the R&R Programme. This will be conditional on further design

work and testing.

TRANSPORT

Aviation: Climate Change


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to reduce domestic

air travel in line with the Government's climate change policies.

Robert Courts:

Aviation must play its part in delivering the UK’s net zero commitment, but we also

need to retain the ability to fly. The aviation sector is vital for the whole of the UK

economy in terms of connectivity, direct economic activity, trade, investment and

jobs, particularly where viable alternative modes of travel are limited. The

Government is already supporting a variety of technology, fuel and market-based

measures to address aviation emissions, and we will consult on a Net Zero Aviation



Strategy in the coming months, setting out the steps to reach net zero aviation

emissions by 2050.

Aviation: Coronavirus

Mr Barry Sheerman: [163150]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with

commercial airline companies on issuing refunds to customers over the covid-19 period.

Robert Courts:

The Government is continuing to work with industry to ensure timely refunds to

consumers during the pandemic. The Civil Aviation Authority reviewed airlines’

compliance on refunds last summer and worked collaboratively to improve their

performance on consumer obligations. A significant majority of airlines now pay

refunds within a reasonable time.

The Competition and Markets Authority are currently reviewing the practices of airline

and travel agents in issuing refunds to customers affected by the travel restrictions.

Cycling and Walking: Urban Areas


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has made an

assessment of the potential merits of introducing long-term goals for increasing active

travel in urban areas of the UK.

Chris Heaton-Harris:

The Prime Minister’s 2020 Cycling and Walking Plan ‘Gear Change’ sets a new vision

that cycling and walking will be the natural first choice for many journeys with half of

all journeys in towns and cities being cycled or walked by 2030. This vision is

complementary to the 2040 ambition contained in the 2017 Statutory Cycling and

Walking Investment Strategy, that cycling and walking should be the natural choices

for shorter journeys, or as part of a longer journey.

The second Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS 2) will be published

after the Government has agreed and set out its long-term spending plans for active

travel at the next multi-year Spending Review. It will reflect and build on the

commitments outlined in the Prime Minister’s Cycling and Walking Plan of July 2020,

including targets for cycling and walking.

Department for Transport: Civil Servants


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many civil servants working in his

Department are based outside of Greater London, and at which locations; and what plans

he has for the further relocation of civil servants in his Department to outside of Greater

London.





Across the Department for Transport Group (the core Department and its four

Executive Agencies) 79% of staff are based outside of London.

The core Department has 427 staff (of a total workforce of 3,457) outside of London

in the following locations:

• Aldershot

• Birmingham

• Bristol

• Cambridge

• Derby

• Guildford

• Hastings

• Leeds

• Liverpool

• Newcastle Upon Tyne

• Nottingham

• Southampton

• Swansea

• Woking

The Department’s Executive Agencies have 12,064 staff (of a total workforce of

12,433) outside London.

DVSA has over 100 locations outside of London with its largest bases in Bristol,

Swansea, Nottingham, Tyneside, Leeds, Birmingham and Staffordshire.

VCA is predominantly based in Bristol and Nuneaton.

MCA has 38 locations outside of London with its largest bases in Southampton and

Portsmouth.

DVLA is predominantly (over 6,000 staff) based in Swansea.

The core Department is exploring options for expanding its presence in the regions

and nations of the UK as part of the Government’s commitment to move 22,000 civil

service roles out of London by 2030. We will announce our plans once finalised.

Department for Transport: North of England

Dan Jarvis: [R] [164480]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the

potential merits of creating a Department for Transport North.



The Department is exploring options for expanding its presence in the regions and

nations of the UK as part of the Government’s commitment to move 22,000 civil

service roles out of London by 2030. These options include locations in the north of

England. We will announce our plans once finalised.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency: Remote Working


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 1 March 2021 to

Question 158241 on Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency: Remote Working, if he will

place a copy of a suitably redacted version of the Deloitte report on options for DVLA staff

to work from home in the Library.

Rachel Maclean:

There are no plans to place either a full or redacted version of reports which include

references to the DVLA’s IT system in the public domain.

Driving Licences: Reciprocal Arrangements


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the UK-France reciprocal agreement

on driving licences will be agreed.

Rachel Maclean:

The Government is making every effort to reach a swift understanding with France

regarding long-term licence exchange arrangements for UK nationals resident in

France, and vice-versa. UK nationals who became resident in France before 1

January 2021 can continue to use their valid UK licences until 31 December 2021.

The French authorities have confirmed that a valid UK licence will continue to be

exchanged in this period, until a reciprocal agreement is reached between the United

Kingdom and France.

Ferries: Coronavirus



effectiveness of consumer protections for transactions for ferry travel during the covid-19

outbreak.

Robert Courts:

The Department for Transport holds regular discussions with ferry companies and

has made clear that the requirements of passenger rights regulations remain in force

during the Covid pandemic. Companies are required to comply with their legal

obligations and honour passenger’s rights.




Global Travel Taskforce

Mark Menzies: [162570]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department has taken to

ensure the representation of aerospace manufacturers in the work of the Global Travel

Taskforce.

Robert Courts:

The Government is working closely with the transport industry, the tourism sector, the

aerospace industry and international partners to develop a roadmap to safely re-open

international travel.

We are planning several round-table events with industry to encourage contributions

to the work of the Global Travel Taskforce from a wide range of partners, including

the aerospace industry. The Taskforce is due to report its recommendations to the

Prime Minister by 12 April.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Andrea Leadsom: [164453]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the HS2 Environmental Statement was

last updated; and what guidance has been given to contractors to encourage the use of

100 per cent renewable diesel in place of fossil diesel.

Andrew Stephenson:

An Environmental Statement is prepared by HS2 Ltd to support each hybrid Bill

deposit. Statements were prepared in 2013 and 2017 for Phase One and Phase 2a

respectively, to summarise the findings of the Environmental Impact Assessment

process. Beyond the point of Royal Assent environmental surveys continue to be

undertaken and are used to inform further decisions, requirements and additional

mitigations where appropriate.

In respect of low carbon fuels, HS2 Ltd sets the toughest standards for both site plant

and vehicle engine standards as described in Information Paper E31 and the project

closely monitors compliance with these standards held here:


ent_data/file/672406/E31_-_Air_Quality_v1.5.pdf and here:


ent_data/file/960731/E14_Air_Quality_v1.3.pdf

HS2 Ltd has set a challenging target to reduce carbon during the construction of

Phase 1 by 50% and has asked its contractors to develop plans to improve the

quality of their supply chain vehicle fleets as these are renewed over the life of their

contract, and issued advice to them regarding the suitability and adoption of new

vehicle engine types, fuels and related standards, where there is a business case for

their adoption.

HS2 Ltd and the supply chain remain focused on developing and implementing

practical ways to improve impacts on air quality, and alternative fuels are one area of



https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/672406/E31_-_Air_Quality_v1.5.pdf__;!!HEBAkwG3r5RD!ps_OqPI7RCq_L7AdhVMZhf2GMIk2T7ZleINk8wQlJM-Dn7jc0MBIuCDOtDC4L1USRSJf$



https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/960731/E14_Air_Quality_v1.3.pdf



consideration. The HS2 Ltd Air Quality team support project delivery partners by

making informed choices based on evidenced market offerings, with a view to

ensuring that HS2 Ltd takes an industry lead on this subject.

High Speed 2 Railway Line: Noise


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to circumstances where a

property was shown as amber for noise levels during the Hybrid Bill Committee stage,

and HS2 undertook to provide mitigation to secure that classification, what assessment

he has made of the implications for his policies of HS2 not providing that mitigation with

the result that the same property enters the red category for noise disruption.

Andrew Stephenson:

HS2 Ltd’s civils contractors are updating the predicted noise effects of the scheme,

originally published in the Environmental Statement that accompanied the HS2

Phase One hybrid Bill, as part of their design process. This is in order to demonstrate

that noise from the operational railway, and from altered roads, has been reduced ‘as

far as reasonably practicable,’ in accordance with the HS2 Environmental Minimum

Requirements (EMRs). Contractors demonstrate that their mitigation proposals

comply with the EMRs using the methodology and tests set out in HS2 Planning

Forum Note 14: Operational Noise from the Railway and Altered Roads. HS2

Planning Forum Note 14 provides a framework for considering EMR compliance in

situations where there has been a change in the forecast noise levels compared to

the Environmental Statement. It is available here:


ent_data/file/833184/PFN_14_Operational_Noise.pdf

High Speed 2 Railway Line: South Northamptonshire


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many compulsory purchases of

properties affected by HS2 there have been in South Northamptonshire.

Andrew Stephenson:

With respect to General Vesting Declarations, Notice To Treat/Notice Of Entry and

Schedule 16 (temporary occupation) in South Northamptonshire, we have the

following information:

• General Vesting Declarations – 21 have been executed covering land in the district

of South Northamptonshire. These can be found on our website:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hs2-phase-one-compulsory-purchase-

general-vesting-declarations-for-south-northamptonshire

• Notice To Treat/Notice Of Entry – 3 Land Areas, resulting in 7 notices (These Land

Areas are also included in the Schedule 16 count as they included both notice

types)

• Schedule 16 (temporary occupation) – 21 Land Areas, resulting in 281 notices



https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.gov.uk/government/publications/hs2-phase-one-compulsory-purchase-general-vesting-declarations-for-south-northamptonshire__;!!HEBAkwG3r5RD!oJLmh6d1nyLmEOkQfOEa9nZCkyMsyINOmch2Kc4050E5tL-yJYCIIb1s-wZ1jDM_GHGW$




To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many people in South Northamptonshire

constituency are awaiting reimbursement of legal costs by HS2.

Andrew Stephenson:

HS2 Ltd has made forty-eight payments to date on cases in this constituency relating

to compulsory purchase. HS2 Ltd has also completed thirty-four statutory blight and

discretionary scheme payments.

HS2 Ltd has identified thirty-eight payments on cases in the constituency that are yet

to be completed, all relating to compulsory purchase.

Of this thirty-eight: thirty-three are in negotiation (twenty-five permanent possession

and eight temporary occupation), three marked as in dispute (all temporary

occupation) and two currently rejected (both permanent possession).

Many of these will have legal fees associated with them. Legal fees are paid at

particular points in a claim when substantive evidence is provided.


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what noise modelling process HS2 has used

to assess the level of noise resulting from the building and operation of HS2 for Radstone

in South Northamptonshire constituency.

Andrew Stephenson:

HS2 Ltd’s construction contractors are predicting noise from the construction of HS2

in accordance with the methodologies set out in BS 5228-1:2009+A1:2014 “Code of

practice for noise and vibration control on construction and open sites. Noise”. Noise

and vibration assessments are shared with relevant local authorities through

applications for prior consent for work on construction sites according to Section 61 of

the Control of Pollution Act 1974.

To predict noise from the operational railway, HS2 Ltd’s contractor EKFB is using the

prediction model originally developed for HS1. Input assumptions have been varied to

reflect relevant differences, such as the higher speeds of HS2. The hybrid Bill

process intensively scrutinised how the HS1 noise model should be applied to HS2,

and which input assumptions should be used. Using the model, EKFB is developing a

design that is compliant with the HS2 Environmental Minimum Requirements, using

the methodology and tests set out in HS2 Planning Forum Note 14: Operational

Noise from the Railway and Altered Roads, available here:


ent_data/file/833184/PFN_14_Operational_Noise.pdf

Motor Vehicles: Excise Duties


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the number of

people who were not notified that their vehicle excise duty was due for payment in the



https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/833184/PFN_14_Operational_Noise.pdf__;!!HEBAkwG3r5RD!vnJgj7QtdCZjdHm_lewIxhjTkQfsQEIGxuCT1BgChr5TGtUjFcwS89P35ZYPm9AdIvl_$




latest period for which figures are available; and how much revenue is generated by late

or non-payment of that duty.

Rachel Maclean:

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) issues more than three million

vehicle excise duty reminders each month. Non-delivery of a reminder may happen in

certain circumstances such as, the vehicle keeper having moved house and not

advised the DVLA of the new address or it may have been lost in the post. No figures

are available, but complaints about non-delivery of vehicle excise duty reminders are

rare.

There are a number of ways to license a vehicle, including online or by telephone 24

hours a day, seven days a week or at one of around 4,000 Post Office branches

across the UK. Customers can also check when their vehicle excise duty is due using

the DVLA’s online Vehicle Enquiry Service.

The registered keeper is responsible for ensuring that their vehicle is properly

licensed or subject to a Statutory Off Road Notification.

Enforcement activities against unlicensed vehicles accounted for around £88 million

in fines and penalties during 2019/20.

Public Transport

Sajid Javid: [163671]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department has taken to

support green investment in public transport.

Rachel Maclean:

A decarbonised transport system is at the heart of the Government’s Ten Point Plan

for a Green Industrial Revolution, which will mobilise £12 billion of government

investment to unlock three times as much private sector investment by 2030. Our

upcoming Transport Decarbonisation Plan will set out more clearly the steps we will

take to deliver transport’s contribution to net zero, stimulating development and

private sector investment.

Railway Network: Carbon Emissions


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to reduce emissions

on the rail network.


In the last three years, we have completed almost 700 single track miles of rail

electrification in England and Wales, and we will continue to electrify more of the rail

network in the years ahead. We are also supporting the development of new low-

carbon technologies in rail, like battery and hydrogen trains, through innovation

funding and research.



The Network Rail-led Traction Decarbonisation Network Strategy (TDNS) provides

advice about which decarbonising technologies (electrification, hydrogen, or battery)

could best suit each part of the network. TDNS will inform the Department’s

forthcoming Transport Decarbonisation Plan and Government decisions about the

scale and pace of rail decarbonisation between now and 2050.

Emissions from diesel trains can contribute to air pollution hotspots, with stations

being an area of particular concern. The Government is funding a new £4.5 million air

quality monitoring network, which will measure air pollution in up to 100 stations

across the GB railway. Once established, the network will help to identify priority

locations where air quality improvement measures are most needed.

Railway Stations: Access

Jonathan Gullis: [162712]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether Longport Railway Station will be

eligible for Network Rail's Access for All scheme.


All of the funding currently available to Access for All has been allocated to projects.

We are in the process of setting the funding envelopes for the next control period.

When further funding is available, any station without an accessible route into the

station and to all platforms will be a potential candidate.

Railway Stations: Pedestrian Areas

Jane Hunt: [162713]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what (a) steps the Government is taking to

ensure the safety of blind and partially sighted people at train stations and (b)

assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of making tactile edging on

platforms mandatory.


Operators involved in the management of stations are responsible for ensuring the

safety of all passengers on the premises. The Office of Rail and Roads (ORR) is the

safety regulator of Britain’s railway and can take enforcement action if these

standards are not met.

There are clear safety and accessibility benefits of installing platform edge tactiles.

Whenever the industry installs, replaces or renews platform infrastructure they must

install appropriate tactile surfaces. Network Rail has also been asked to develop a

programme to ensure all platforms have them installed as quickly as possible.



Railways: Coronavirus


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with (a) rail

operators and (b) Network Rail on preparations for the implementation of the roadmap

out of covid-19 lockdown.


The Department and Ministers have regular and frequent discussions with rail

operators, Network Rail and other rail industry stakeholders about the implementation

of the roadmap. This has included asking Sir Peter Hendy to advise on the

preparedness of the public transport network to cope with the re-opening of schools

on 8 March 2021.

Railways: Fares


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made on the

economic effect on commuters of the March 2021 increase in rail fares.


In terms of the impact on commuters, the fares increase on 1 March was the lowest

for four years. A small rise was necessary to ensure crucial investment in our

railways.

By delaying the change in fares, those who needed to renew season tickets were

able to get a better deal. We also continue to work with industry to develop plans to

offer more flexible tickets for commuters and will announce further detail in due

course.

Railways: North Wales



potential benefits of HS2 for people in Ynys Môn; and what plans he has for rail

investment in North Wales.

Andrew Stephenson:

HS2 will free up capacity on the existing West Coast Main Line which could be used

for additional services. Current plans would see North Wales passengers benefiting

from an HS2 interchange at Crewe, with shorter journey times than those currently

possible on the West Coast Main Line to Holyhead.

In addition, we are progressing the development of a line speed enhancement

scheme for the North Wales Coast Line, and the Prime Minister has asked Sir Peter

Hendy CBE to undertake an independent review into transport connections across

Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England. The review will make

recommendations on how the UK Government can level up transport infrastructure,

boosting access to opportunities and improving people’s everyday connections.




Travel: Coronavirus


To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the new form required to be

completed by people travelling abroad from England, whether that form must be

completed by non residents and/or foreign nationals; and whether migrating to another

country is a permitted reason to travel abroad.

Robert Courts:

All people travelling from England outside the Common Travel Area, including foreign

nationals, are required to complete a travel declaration form unless they are exempt.

Details of exemptions can be found on gov.uk

(https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-travellers-exempt-

from-uk-border-rules/coronavirus-covid-19-travellers-exempt-from-uk-border-rules).

Those under 18 and those that lack capacity are not required to have a travel

declaration form. If travelling with a responsible adult, however, that responsible adult

must complete a form on their behalf.

Under the current stay at home restrictions, people may only leave home or the place

where they are living if they have a reasonable excuse. Moving house is a

reasonable excuse for these purposes, so travelling abroad in order to move home is

permitted and may be stated on the travel declaration form. Whether someone is in

fact travelling for the purposes of moving home will be a matter of fact, which police

may assess if questioning an individual.

TREASURY

Beer: Excise Duties

Meg Hillier: [164393]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to respond to the consultation

on the review of Small Brewers' Relief that ran from 30 January 2019 to 17 March 2019;

and what steps he is taking to use the findings of that consultation to inform the

consultation on Small Brewers' Relief that closes on 4 April 2021.

Kemi Badenoch:

Following the announcement of the Small Brewers Relief (SBR) review at the 2018

Budget, the Treasury conducted a survey of brewers between January and March

2019. An update on the review was provided to Parliament in July 2020, outlining the

Government’s initial conclusions. In January 2021 a technical consultation was

launched to gain further feedback from brewers. The information provided by the

consultation will be used alongside the data from the 2019 survey to inform final

policy decisions.

Further updates will be provided after the close of the consultation.



Broadband: Capital Investment


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether investment in the laying of fibre cables

as part of the UK's broadband rollout will qualify for the Super Deduction on capital

expenditure announced in Budget 2021.


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential

effect of the Super Deduction capital allowance introduced in Budget 2021 on investment

in people and skills.

Jesse Norman:

Budget 2021 announced that from 1 April 2021 until 31 March 2023, companies

investing in qualifying new plant and machinery assets will benefit from both the

130% super-deduction and a 50% first-year capital allowance.

Expenditure on qualifying plant and machinery capital investments used by a

company in the course of a trade can qualify for the relevant first-year allowance,

including fibre cables. Software can also qualify for the super-deduction, provided the

company makes an election to remove software from the intangible fixed assets

regime. Expenditure on the learning and development of staff does not qualify for the

super-deduction but is already an allowable expense for tax purposes.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: Ethnic Groups

Afzal Khan: [164616]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 8 March 2021 to

Question 160786, on Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: Ethnic Groups, whether his

Department has plans to collect information on the ethnic breakdown of recipients

supported by the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

Afzal Khan: [164617]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if his Department will provide information on the

number of disabled recipients supported by the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

Jesse Norman:

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) do not hold information on the ethnicity of

employees who have been furloughed under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

(CJRS) nor on whether they have a disability. There are no plans to collect this

data.HMRC publish statistics on the CJRS. The latest release was published on

GOV.UK on 25 February 2020: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/coronavirus-

job-retention-scheme-statistics-february-2021.







To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps the Government is taking to prioritise

covid-19 financial support for hard to reach communities.

Kemi Badenoch:

In response to the unparalleled economic shock created by COVID-19, the

government quickly provided one of the most comprehensive and generous

packages of economic support globally, adapting the help offered as the situation

evolved. This has provided timely and targeted temporary support to individuals,

families and businesses up and down the UK. At the Budget, the Chancellor

announced an additional £65 billion of further measures to support the economy this

year and next year, taking the total cumulative cost of the COVID-19 rescue package

since the start of the pandemic to £352 billion.

The government has extended support for the lowest paid and most vulnerable. The

temporary £20 uplift to Universal Credit will continue for a further six months. Working

Tax Credit claimants will receive an equivalent of six months of support through a

one-off £500 payment.

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme has now supported 11.2 million jobs across

the UK, worth £53.8 billion, and has been extended until the end of September. At the

Budget, the Chancellor also announced two further grants of the Self-Employed

Income Support Scheme. Self-employed people who filed their 2019/20 tax returns

by 2 March will be eligible for both grants, meaning that over 600,000 self-employed

individuals may be newly eligible for the SEISS, including many new to self-

employment.

Vaccines are the best way to protect people from coronavirus, and a new vaccine

uptake plan was published on 13 February to boost vaccine uptake in all

communities. The Department of Health and the NHS continue to work closely with

Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, listening to the ideas of faith leaders

and grassroots organisations, to ensure we can get vaccines to as many people as

possible.

Events Industry: Coronavirus

Ed Davey: [164349]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to his Budget 2021 statement on

3 March 2021, whether the support packages for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses

extend to the events and exhibitions sector.

Kemi Badenoch:

The Government understands this is a difficult time for the events and exhibitions

sector who have been acutely impacted by the pandemic.

From April business rate paying businesses in these sectors may be eligible for

restart grants of up to £18,000 per business premises. Guidance for Local Authorities



(LA) on the eligibility for these grants will be published shortly. In addition, the

Government has announced LAs in England will receive a top-up worth a total of

£425 million to their allocation from the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG), which

has already provided LAs with £1.6 billion. This funding is at the LAs discretion and is

intended to support businesses which are not eligible for restart grants, but which are

nonetheless experiencing a severe impact on their business.

The events and exhibitions sector will also benefit from the extension of the

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), the Self Employments Income Support

Scheme (SEISS), the UK-wide Recovery Loan Scheme, and may also benefit from

the £300m extension to the Culture Recovery Fund announced at Budget. This is in

addition to the £1.57 billion provided in July 2020.

Football: Unpaid Taxes

Damian Collins: [164419]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much in total is owed by football clubs

playing in the English Football League to HMRC in overdue unpaid taxes.

Jesse Norman:

Across the English Football League, including the Championship, League 1 and

League 2, the total debt is £110,437,964 excluding VAT which was deferred from

spring 2020 and is not due until 31 March 2021. The breakdown by league is:

CHAMPIONSHIP £88,897,407

League 1 £16,601,127

League 2 £4,939,428

total debt £110,437,964

Free Zones

Bridget Phillipson: [164428]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the announcement of eight

freeports as part of Budget 2021, whether the Government plans to designate any further

freeports in England, on the basis of bids submitted in advance of the 5 February 2021

bid deadline.

Steve Barclay:

The government has no plans to designate further Freeports in England beyond

those allocated at this time.


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to publish details of the

submissions made by the eight successful locations in the freeports bidding process.




Steve Barclay:

The Ministry for Housing, Communities & Local Government will shortly publish the

rationale behind the selection of the 8 successful Freeport locations.


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the assessment of bids

submitted for freeport status on or before 5 February 2021, whether the process set out

on pages 38-39 of the Government's Freeports Bidding Prospectus, CP 315 was followed

in full; what criteria was used to ensure the process was open; whether any part of the

process had its initial timeline hastened or compressed to make it possible to announce

the freeports at Budget 2021; on what date the decision on the eight designated freeports

was taken; and on what date spending was authorized for transport costs associated with

the Prime Minister's visit to Teesside on 4 March 2021.

Steve Barclay:

Specific locations were chosen according to the fair, open and transparent

assessment process set out in the Bidding Prospectus.

Freeport Governance Body: Public Appointments


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to each of the eight approved

freeport bids announced as part of Budget 2021, whether each bid proposed that (a) one

or more or (b) two or more hon. Members should sit on the Freeport Governance Body;

and whether each bid proposed a role for democratically elected local councillors, elected

mayors, or council leaders, on the Freeport Governance Body.


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether nationally-secured sectoral industrial

agreements covering matters of health and safety and rights at work will apply as equally

to freeports as they apply to rest of the UK.

Steve Barclay:

Bidders set out the proposed membership for their Governance Body in their bids. As

stated in the Prospectus, final governance structures will be agreed between bidders

and HMG.

Businesses in Freeports – like any other business in the UK – will have to adhere to

the UK’s high regulatory standards. Our Freeport model ensures that the UK’s high

standards with respect to security, safety, workers’ rights, data protection, biosecurity

and the environment will not be compromised.

Hire Services: UK Trade with EU

Anne McLaughlin: [164521]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 25 February 2021 to

Question 912435 on hire companies and trade with the EU, once the hire company has

checked the national regulations of the country it is doing business in to understand how





best to operate, what tax is payable when hire goods return through UK customs; what

paperwork must be completed; and where hire companies can find the detail of the

applicable UK regulations.

Jesse Norman:

If taking goods temporarily out of the UK (including hiring), an ATA Carnet can help

simplify customs formalities by allowing a single document to be used for clearing

goods through customs in the countries that are part of the ATA Carnet system. Both

the UK and all EU Member States accept ATA Carnets. In the UK, ATA Carnets are

administered by the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI). Business

wishing to use ATA Carnets are advised to contact the LCCI directly to discuss their

business needs.

Temporary Admission offers an alternative means to import goods temporarily into

the EU, provided the relevant conditions are met. The management of EU import and

export procedures is the responsibility of the customs authorities of the EU Member

States so businesses and individuals should confirm the processes at their port of

arrival.

Businesses re-importing goods into the UK can claim relief from import VAT and any

customs duty under Returned Goods Relief (RGR), provided specific conditions are

met. RGR applies to goods exported from the UK and re-imported within three years

in an unaltered state and can apply to goods which are imported into the UK following

their export from the UK under Temporary Admission or with an ATA Carnet.


Rosie Cooper: [164401]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to respond to the letter from the

hon. Member for West Lancashire of 27 November 2020 on business rates, reference

ZA54614.

Jesse Norman:

HM Treasury has no record of receiving the letter of 27 November from the

Honourable Member. The Member's follow up correspondence of 18 February is now

receiving attention. HM Treasury apologises for the delay in responding and will

respond to the Member as soon as possible.

Mortgages: Northern Ireland

Colum Eastwood: [164680]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with banks in

Northern Ireland on the rollout of 95 per cent loan to value mortgages announced in

Budget 2021.

John Glen:

First time buyers and homemovers will benefit from a new mortgage guarantee

scheme, which will increase the availability of 95% loan to value (LTV) mortgage

products across the UK, helping borrowers with small deposits into home ownership.



The scheme is open to any regulated residential mortgage lender in the UK, including

lenders based in Northern Ireland. The Government is open to discussions with any

lender interested in joining the scheme.

The 2013 Help to Buy: Mortgage guarantee scheme supported 2,660 mortgage

completions in Northern Ireland, with the country’s share of mortgage completions

under the scheme being higher than its share of overall UK mortgage lending during

the same period.

National Infrastructure Bank and Treasury: Civil Servants


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the announcement in Budget

2021 of the creation of the economic campus in Darlington and National Infrastructure

Bank in Leeds, how many civil servant jobs will be (a) created and (b) relocated to each

respective institution.

Kemi Badenoch:

At least 750 roles from across HM Treasury, the Department for International Trade,

the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the Ministry of Housing,

Communities and Local Government and the Office for National Statistics will be

based at the Darlington economic campus. The Treasury’s workforce will be made up

of staff who voluntarily relocate from London and through direct recruitment. The UK

Infrastructure Bank (UKIB) is a new institution and will be headquartered in Leeds.

The UKIB will be launched in interim form later in the Spring with the recruitment of

the bank’s Chair currently underway with further roles to follow in due course.

Pensions: Age


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reason the Government plans to raise

the private pension age.


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential

merits of lowering the private pension age.

John Glen:

The normal minimum pension age is the minimum age at which most pension savers

can access their pensions without incurring an unauthorised payments tax charge

(unless they are retiring due to ill-health). The normal minimum pension age was set

at 50 in 2006 when it was introduced and since then, life expectancy at birth for both

men and women increased significantly. According to the latest data from the Office

for National Statistics, life expectancy has also continued to increase since 2014,

when the Coalition Government announced it would increase the normal minimum

pension age from 55 to 57 in 2028.




Increasing the normal minimum pension age reflects increases in longevity and

changing expectations of how long individuals will remain in work and in retirement.

Raising the normal minimum pension age to age 57 keeps it around 10 years behind

state pension age, and could encourage individuals to save longer for their

retirement, and so help ensure that individuals will have financial security in later life.

In 2014 the Coalition Government announced that the normal minimum pension age

would increase from age 55 to 57 in 2028, following a consultation on the appropriate

normal minimum pension age for individuals to access their private pensions without

incurring an unauthorised payments tax charge. On 11 February the Government

published a consultation on the appropriate protection regime for individuals who

have unqualified rights to access their pension before the minimum age. The

consultation is open until 22 April 2021. The normal minimum pension age increase

will not apply to the public service pension schemes for firefighters, police and the

armed forces.

Protective Clothing: VAT


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential

merits of extending the VAT exemption on personal protective equipment available for (a)

funeral homes and (b) other businesses.

Jesse Norman:

The temporary zero rate was an extraordinary measure introduced to help affected

sectors such as hospitals and care homes during the initial acute period of the

COVID-19 crisis, when global supply of PPE did not meet demand and PPE was

procured directly from the open market.

Companies in the funeral sector source their own PPE through their normal supply

routes. In extreme circumstances, there is provision for them to approach their Local

Resilience Forum (LRF) or local authority, where the LRF has stood down, to discuss

access to an emergency supply. Given this, there are no plans to review the VAT

treatment of PPE.

SME Brexit Support Fund


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when applications will open for the SME Brexit

Support Fund.

Jesse Norman:

The Government has recently announced a £20 million SME Brexit Support Fund to

help small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) adjust to new customs, rules of

origin, and VAT rules when trading with the EU. It is due to open for applications

shortly.



Thalidomide

Alison Thewliss: [164514]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the Barnett Consquentials are for (a)

Scotland, (b) Wales and (c) Northern Ireland of his Budget 2021 announcement on

funding for the Thalidomide Health Grant Renewal.

Steve Barclay:

At Budget 2021 a lifetime commitment was announced to continue the Thalidomide

Health Grant in England once the existing funding commitment expires in 2023-24.

The devolved administrations have already received Barnett consequentials in the

usual way for any funding provided to the Department of Health and Social Care at

previous fiscal events and spending reviews up to 2021-22.

For 2022-23 onwards, the devolved administrations will receive funding through the

Barnett formula at the upcoming spending review and future fiscal events. The

government is committed to engaging closely with them to ensure all recipients

benefit from this funding.

Transport: Environment Protection


To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the

environmental impact of freezing fuel duty while raising rail fares above the level of

inflation.

Kemi Badenoch:

Households spend a significant amount of their total spending on transport fuels, and

fuel costs are a factor in helping the competitiveness of British businesses. These are

particularly important considerations in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic with

households moving away from public transport towards using their own vehicles to

avoid furthering the virus’ spread. As set out at the Budget, future fuel duty rates will

be considered in the context of the UK’s commitment to reach net-zero emissions by

2050.

The government is taking action to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and improve air

quality through Vehicle Excise Duty and the Company Car Tax system. As

announced in the Ten Point Plan, the UK will end the sale of new petrol and diesel

cars and vans by 2030, ten years earlier than planned. The transition away from

petrol and diesel cars and vans will make a vital contribution to meeting our Net Zero

commitment.

Rail fares increased by 1% above inflation (2.6%) on 1 March 2021 – this is the

lowest actual increase in four years. A small rise is necessary to ensure crucial

investment in our railways. The government temporarily froze fares, enabling

passengers to purchase tickets at a lower price until 28 February. Passenger demand

has fallen dramatically over the last year and its recovery is uncertain. The

government will continue to work closely with industry on initiatives to support



demand and revenue recovery when the time is right, including actively working with

train operators to develop a solution that offers better value and convenience for

those who commute flexibly.

WOMEN AND EQUALITIES

Gender Equality Advisory Council

Emily Thornberry: [164399]

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what recent progress the Government has

made in contributing to the 2018 G7 Gender Equality Advisory Council’s

recommendations (a) 18.1, (b) 28 and (c) 40.

Elizabeth Truss:

Under the UK G7 Presidency, the Prime Minister has reconvened the Gender

Equality Advisory Council (GEAC). I am delighted to act as Ministerial Lead working

with the independent Council and building on the foundations laid by the Canadian

and French G7 presidencies, and to champion the core principles of freedom,

opportunity, individual humanity and dignity for women around the world.

The Government remains deeply committed to tackling global poverty and helping to

achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Despite the economic challenges

we face, the UK will remain a major donor spending 0.5 per cent of GNI on Overseas

Development Aid (ODA).

The Foreign Secretary’s Strategic Framework for UK ODA announced in the House

on 26 November 2020 will see us focus on global challenges where the UK can make

the most impact: on climate change and biodiversity; girls’ education; COVID and

global health security; on open societies, conflict resolution, humanitarian crises and

trade and economic development.

FCDO supports a range of programmes that promote the importance of data to

inform policy-making and programme delivery focused on the needs of the most

vulnerable. Having joined the Inclusive Data Charter last year, we will produce an

Action Plan on improving the quality, quantity, financing, and availability of inclusive

and disaggregated data, as well as the capacity and capability to produce and use it.

The Prime Minister has made absolutely clear our continued commitment to stand up

for the right of every girl to 12 years of quality education. ODA spending is only one of

our tools in achieving our ambitions; this year we will be co-hosting the Global

Partnership for Education Replenishment with Kenya and using our G7 Presidency to

rally the international community to step up support to girls’ education.

Emily Thornberry: [164400]

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what remuneration members of the

Gender Equality Advisory Council will receive for the work they do on behalf of the UK’s

G7 presidency.



Elizabeth Truss:

Membership of the Gender Equality Advisory Council is voluntary and unpaid.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Carer's Allowance: Overpayments


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March

to Question 156242 on Carer's Allowance: Overpayments, what information her

Department holds on the starting date and durations of the overpayments of Carer’s

Allowance first identified in (a) 2018-19, (b) 2019-20 and (c) 2020-21.

Justin Tomlinson:

The Government recognises and appreciates the vital role unpaid carers play in

supporting loved ones who are ill, frail or disabled.

The Carer’s Allowance debts referred to Debt Management in each of the last 3

years, reflect individual overpayments; the starting dates and durations will therefore

vary accordingly.

However, the average lengths of the recoverable Carer’s Allowance overpayments

referred to Debt Management in each of the requested years was as follows:

2018/2019 2019/2020 2020/2021 YTD

Average Length

(Days)

164 213 135

I can also confirm that the median start dates for those overpayments were:

2018/2019 2019/2020 2020/2021 YTD

Median Start Date 06/11/2017 17/12/2018 09/12/2019

These overpayments have arisen in the main because changes have not been

reported on time. DWP takes every care to explain a claimant’s responsibilities when

they apply for Carer’s Allowance; this includes the need to report changes on time.

The Department has improved Carer’s Allowance communications to make this even

clearer.

New technology and additional staffing have now made it easier to identify and

prevent overpayments.

Notes:

• The Department has a duty to recover overpaid benefits as quickly and efficiently

as possible.


• Overpayment recovery is subject to various legislative limitations and safeguards

so customers do not experience financial hardship.

• There are rules covering the amount of money we can take from a person’s benefit

and customers are informed in advance before benefit deductions start.

• Where a person claims they cannot afford the proposed rate of recovery, they are

asked to provide details of their income and expenditure. When this information is

provided, their financial circumstances can be taken into account and a reduction in

their rate of repayment may be agreed. In these circumstances, the situation would

be reviewed at regular periods. In exceptional circumstances, a temporary

suspension of recovery may be agreed.

Children: Maintenance


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March

2021 to Question 160841, what changes her Department is making as part of the overall

improvement plan that will support increased compliance of child maintenance payments.

Guy Opperman:

Child Maintenance Service are undertaking a range of changes as part of an overall

improvement programme. This includes automation of simpler tasks and an improved

digital offer, that will enable caseworkers to focus on more complex areas of work,

supporting service improvements and increased compliance.

Covid Winter Grant Scheme


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to continue

support for vulnerable children and families provided by the Covid Winter Grant Scheme.

Will Quince:

The Government is committed to helping people with the cost of living and providing

a safety net for those that need it and has injected billions into the welfare system for

those most in need. The Covid Winter Grant Scheme was introduced to provide Local

Authorities in England with funding to support vulnerable households with the costs of

food, heating and water bills, in response to the pandemic. The funding was intended

to provide additional support throughout the challenging winter period to those most

in need. This will now be extended until the 16 April 2021 to support families as

restrictions are gradually lifted.

Department for Work and Pensions: Social Security Benefits

Jonathan Reynolds: [164454]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people employed by her

Department claim in-work benefits.




Guy Opperman:

This information is not available.

Disability: Coronavirus


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions she has had with

Cabinet colleagues on the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on the financial situation of

disabled people and their carers.

Justin Tomlinson:

Disabled people and their carers have access to the full range of social security

benefits according to their circumstances.

DWP Ministers and officials regularly discuss support for disabled people and carers

with their counterparts across Government and recognises and values the vital

contribution made by carers in supporting some of the most vulnerable in society.

Health and Safety Executive: Disclosure of Information

Andy McDonald: [164495]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason the agendas,

papers and minutes of Health and Safety Executive open board meetings have not been

published since March 2020; and when the HSE plans to publish those documents.

Mims Davies:

At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, in common with a number of organisations in

the public sector, HSE switched its Board meetings to a virtual format. Due to

limitations of the technology used, it was not possible for any of these meetings to be

open and therefore all board meetings since March 2020 have been closed.

Whilst the HSE Board is firmly committed to engaging with stakeholders in an open

and transparent way, the format of this is subject to review and therefore, at the

present time, no future open meeting dates have been set.

Health and Safety Executive: Inspections


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many site-based Health and

Safety Executive spot checks have been carried out by (a) covid-19 support officers, (b)

visiting officers/regulatory contact officers and (c) inspectors in each month since March

2020.

Mims Davies:

Spot checks are one part of HSE’s blended approach in tackling Covid-19 risk in the

workplace. With additional Government funding to support Covid-19 work, HSE

engaged third party suppliers to deliver spot check calls and visits by spot check

support officers to a protocol and script set out by HSE. Where these checks reveal

cause for concern the case is passed to an inspector for a visit and enforcement




action taken if necessary, to ensure the workplace is Covid-19 secure. The additional

capacity provided by the spot check support officers has broadened HSE’s reach to

many more workplaces than would have been possible and supported inspectors

focus on planned key work.

In addition to spot checks, HSE inspectors have visited workplaces to support public

health bodies in responding to outbreaks and to investigate Covid-19 concerns raised

by workers and others. Also, in any site intervention with dutyholders, for example

investigating a serious incident, carrying out targeted proactive inspection work where

the focus is non Covid-19 activity or similar regulatory activity, HSE inspectors check

compliance with Covid-19 standards.

Since March 2020, HSE has carried out 149,248 spot checks, 65,152 of these were

physical site visits to check controls were in place which met the Government’s

workplace Covid-19 secure guidelines.

The breakdown of visits is provided in the table below:

MONTH / YEAR

SPOT CHECK SUPPORT

OFFICER

HSE VISITING OFFICER

/ REGULATORY

CONTACT OFFICER HSE INSPECTOR

March 2020

2

April 2020

6

May 2020

15

June 2020

91

July 2020

20 1475

August 2020

18 1448

September 2020

38 1989

October 2020 2,263 26 2804

November 2020 7,395 41 1714

December 2020 8,948 20 974

January 2021 12,737 7 721

February 2021 14,805 11 723

March 2021 6,765 2 94

Totals 52,913 183 12,056

Note: Figures were obtained from HSE’s live operational database on 9 th March

2020 and may be subject to change, e.g. as there can be a delay of up to ten working

days before data is uploaded onto the system.

Housing Benefit: Social Rented Housing

Ed Davey: [164348]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will review the spare room

subsidy policy to ensure that people who are unable to work as a result of illness are not

obliged to pay that charge.

Will Quince:

The ‘Removal of the Spare Room Subsidy’ policy has helped to encourage mobility

within the social rented sector, strengthen work-incentives and make better use of

available social housing.

There are no plans to amend the policy which already allows for the provision of an

additional bedroom for disabled people and carers, foster carers, parents who adopt,

parents of service personnel, and people who have suffered a recent bereavement.

Additionally, those in receipt of pension age housing benefit are exempt.

If a claimants ability to mitigate any shortfall between their housing support and rent

has changed, Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP’s) are available. DHPs can be

paid to those in receipt of Housing Benefit or support with housing costs in Universal

Credit who face a shortfall in meeting their rental housing costs. Since 2011 we have

provided over £1 billion in DHP funding.

Kickstart Scheme: Employment


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department

has made on the effect of the Kickstart scheme on employment levels.

Mims Davies:

The Department of Work and Pensions’ Kickstart Scheme is creating new, fully-

funded, six- month jobs for young people at risk of long term unemployment. On

Monday 8th March the Secretary of State announced that we have approved almost

150,000 jobs through the scheme, of which over 4,000 young people have started in

and over 30,000 are currently being advertised. Kickstart is designed to improve the

chances that young people who participate will find sustained employment following

their Kickstart job and as the economy starts to recover from the pandemic.

Local Housing Allowance: Homelessness and Poverty

David Linden: [163281]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of

the potential effect of the real terms cut to Local Housing Allowance rates in 2021-22 on

levels of (a) poverty and (b) homelessness; and if she will publish that assessment.




Will Quince:

Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates were increased in April 2020 to the 30th

percentile of local rents costing almost £1 billion providing 1.5 million claimants with

around £600 more housing support per year than they would otherwise have

received. For 2021/22 LHA rates are to be maintained at their increased level,

ensuring all claimants who benefited from the significant increase last year will

continue to do so.

In addition, as announced on 3 March, we will be extending the exemption for care

leavers and former residents of homeless hostels to all qualifying under 25 year olds

from June 2021. This will bring forward the planned implementation of these

previously announced changed by over 2 years.

For those who require additional support with housing costs Discretionary Housing

Payments (DHP) are available. Since 2011 we have provided over £1 billion in DHP

funding.

Local Restrictions Support Grant: Social Security Benefits

Paul Maynard: [162562]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reasons the Local

Restriction Support Grant paid by local authorities to businesses is taken into account for

self-employed tax credit claimants but not for self-employed universal credit claimants.

Mims Davies:

The tax credits system is designed to work closely alongside the tax system. This is

why the general measure of income for assessing claims to tax credits is any income

which is charged to income tax.

The Local Restriction Support Grant is a taxable payment made to businesses. As

such, it is considered as income for tax credits purposes. This is consistent with other

forms of taxable business support available during the Covid-19 pandemic, such as

the Self-Employment Income Support Grant and Small Business Grants.

DWP legislation provides that Covid-19 related grants which are intended to cover

loss of business income and to aid business recovery, will be disregarded for

Universal Credit purposes for 12 months.

Maternity Pay


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he plans to review the rate

of statutory maternity pay with regard to the Ministerial and other Maternity Allowances

Bill.

Guy Opperman:

The Government has no plans to review the rate of Statutory Maternity Pay.

Statutory Maternity Pay is intended to enable employed pregnant women and new

mothers to prepare for, and recover from, birth and to bond with their child.



Pneumoconiosis: Compensation


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of

the effect of the suspension of assessments for industrial injuries disablement benefits

(IIDB) during the covid-19 outbreak on a claimant’s ability to receive compensation under

the Pneumoconiosis (Works Compensation) Act 1979; and if she will take steps to

backdate IIDB claims.

Justin Tomlinson:

Due to COVID-19, since March face-to-face assessments for all disability benefits,

including the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) have been suspended. For

successful applications to IIDB, award payments will be backdated to the date of

application to ensure claimants will not lose out on payments they are entitled to.

Reassessment case awards have been extended to ensure that payments continue

unhindered on those cases. Any deteriorations which would have meant an increase

in award, will be backdated once face-to-face assessments recommence, to ensure

no one is left out of pocket.

Eligibility to the Pneumoconiosis Etc. (Workers’ Compensation) Act 1979 (‘1979 Act’)

is dependent on an individual having an IIDB assessment and their age at the time of

this assessment.

We have continued to process IIDB claims and lump sum payments for those

individuals with terminal illnesses, and those for Fast Track prescribed diseases.

These claims have continued to be assessed as usual without the need for a face to

face assessment. Individuals can also then claim under the ‘1979 Act’ if eligible. The

IIDB Quarterly Statistics show that 1,560 sufferers and 160 dependents received

payments totalling £27,233,989 between March and December 2020 under the ‘1979

Act’. The data can be found here under table 3.1:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/industrial-injuries-disablement-benefit-

quarterly-statistics-data-to-june-2020

We have now begun some paper based assessments for certain prescribed

diseases. This allows a decision on such claims and will enable claimants to

determine their eligibility to the ‘1979 Act’.

Poverty: Coronavirus

Debbie Abrahams: [163691]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment she has

made of changes in the level of the (a) number and (b) proportion of (i) disabled people,

(ii) children, (iii) working age people and (iv) people of state pension age living in poverty

since the start of the covid-19 outbreak.

Will Quince:

HMT’s recent distributional analysis released in March 2021 showed that

Government interventions in response to Covid-19 are supporting the poorest


https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/industrial-injuries-disablement-benefit-quarterly-statistics-data-to-june-2020




working households the most (excluding any earnings gains). The poorest 10% of

working households had seen no loss to household income as of November 2020.

This is available here:


ent_data/file/966207/DA_Document_Budget_2021.pdf

State Retirement Pensions: Underpayments


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to Written Statement

HCWS824 made on 4 March 2021 by the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for

Pensions and Financial Inclusion, how many underpayments her Department’s correction

exercise has identified to date.


To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to Written Statement

HCWS824 made on 4 March 2021 by the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for

Pensions and Financial Inclusion, how much her Department has paid in backpayments

as a result of the correction exercise to date.

Guy Opperman:

Parliament was updated on this issue through a written statement laid on 4 March

and a topical statement by the Secretary of State during DWP oral questions on 8

March.

I have committed to updating Parliament as the correction exercise progresses.

Surgical Mesh Implants

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: [164391]

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure

that her Department's assessors are aware of the symptoms of mesh injury.

Justin Tomlinson:

All health professionals carrying out Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

assessments and Work Capability Assessments (WCA) on behalf of the department

have been issued with guidance on mesh which was developed in conjunction with

external stakeholders and will be reviewed and updated as necessary.

The department requires health professionals carrying out assessments to have a

broad training in disability analysis, as well as training in specific conditions, including

multiple and complex conditions. While preparing to undertake an assessment, health

professionals can access a wide range of clinical resources to research any condition

presented. This includes evidence based protocols, e-learning modules or case

studies, as well as keeping knowledge up to date through Continuous Professional

Development (CPD).




WRITTEN STATEMENTS

CABINET OFFICE

Border Controls

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office (Michael

Gove): [HCWS841]

On 31 December last year, the UK left the EU’s Single Market and Customs Union. This

was the biggest change in the UK’s trading relationships for decades. The Government

has always been clear that this meant change for business and for citizens, including new

processes and requirements.

The first phase of such changes came in on 1 January. The Government has put in place

the staffing, infrastructure, and IT to deal with the situation. Thanks to the hard work of

traders and hauliers, we have not seen anything like the generalised disruption at our

ports which many predicted, and supply chains have shown themselves to be robust.

However, the Government recognises the scale and significance of the challenges

businesses have been facing in adjusting to the new requirements, at the same time as

dealing with the impacts of COVID.

Last June, we announced a timetable for the phased introduction of controls on imports

from the EU into Great Britain, to ensure businesses could prepare in a phased way. This

timetable was based on the impacts of the first wave of COVID. We know now that the

disruption caused by COVID has lasted longer and has been deeper than we anticipated.

Accordingly, the Government has reviewed these timeframes.

Although we recognise that many in the border industry and many businesses have been

investing time and energy to be ready on time, and indeed we in Government were

confident of being ready on time, we have listened to businesses who have made a

strong case that they need more time to prepare. In reviewing the timeframes, we have

given strong weight to the disruption which has been caused, and is still being caused, by

COVID, and the need to ensure that the economy can recover fully.

We are therefore announcing today a clear revised timetable for the introduction of

controls, as follows:

• Pre-notification requirements for Products of Animal Origin (POAO), certain animal

by-products (ABP), and High Risk Food Not Of Animal Origin (HRFNAO) will not be

required until 1 October 2021. Export Health Certificate requirements for POAO

and certain ABP will come into force on the same date.

• Customs import declarations will still be required, but the option to use the deferred

declaration scheme, including submitting supplementary declarations up to six

months after the goods have been imported, has been extended to 1 January

2022.

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2021-03-11/HCWS841/

• Safety and Security Declarations for imports will not be required until 1 January

2022.

• Physical SPS checks for POAO, certain ABP, and HRFNAO will not be required

until 1 January 2022. At that point they will take place at Border Control Posts.

• Physical SPS checks on high risk plants will take place at Border Control Posts,

rather than at the place of destination as now, from 1 January 2022.

• Pre-notification requirements and documentary checks, including phytosanitary

certificates will be required for low risk plants and plant products, and will be

introduced from 1 January 2022.

• From March 2022, checks at Border Control Posts will take place on live animals

and low risk plants and plant products.

Traders moving controlled goods into Great Britain will continue to be ineligible for the

deferred customs declaration approach. They will therefore be required to complete a full

customs declaration when the goods enter Great Britain.

Controls and checks on Sanitary and Phytosanitary goods are of course a devolved

matter and we continue to work closely with the Devolved Administrations on their

implementation, in particular with the Welsh Government on their timetable for completing

supporting Border Control Post infrastructure in Wales.

We will continue to engage extensively with businesses to support them to adjust to the

new requirements already in place and to prepare for the new requirements set out above

so that they can continue to trade successfully under the new arrangements.

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE

Independent Investigation into East Kent Maternity Services Trust Terms of

Reference

Minister of State (Minister for Patient Safety, Suicide Prevention and Mental Health)

(Ms Nadine Dorries): [HCWS840]

On the 13 February 2020 I confirmed in Parliament that, following concerns raised about

the quality and outcomes of maternity and neonatal care, NHS England and NHS

Improvement (NHSEI) have commissioned Dr Bill Kirkup CBE to undertake an

independent review into maternity and neonatal services at East Kent Hospitals

University NHS Foundation Trust (the Trust).

The Review will be known as the ‘Independent Investigation into East Kent Maternity

Services’ (the Independent Investigation).

We take the patient safety concerns at East Kent maternity services very seriously. The

Independent Investigation will provide an independent assessment of what has happened

with East Kent Maternity and Neonatal Services and identify lessons and conclusions.

The Terms of Reference have been finalised now the views of the families affected have

been taken into account and are published today on the Independent Investigation


(Independent Investigation into East Kent Maternity Services: https://iiekms.org.uk/ ) and

NHSE website ( https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/independent-investigation-into-

east-kent-maternity-services-terms-of-reference ). The Terms of Reference include the

scope and arrangements that are to be put in place to support its functions and confirm

the Independent Investigation will examine maternity and neonatal services in East Kent,

in the period since 2009, when the Trust came into being, until 2020.The Terms of

Reference include the scope and arrangements that are to be put in place and confirm

the Independent Investigation will examine maternity and neonatal services in East Kent,

in the period since 2009, when the Trust came into being, until 2020.

The Independent Investigation will draw conclusions as to the adequacy of the actions

taken at the time by the Trust and the wider system and will produce a report to be

disclosed first to the affected families and then to NHSEI as the commissioning

organisation and then to the Department of Health and Social Care prior to publication.

The work of the Independent Investigation is expected to complete by the Autumn of

2022 and arrangements will be made for the final report to be presented to the Secretary

of State; Ministers will subsequently publish the report to Parliament, and a response will

be provided in due course.

A copy of the Terms of Reference will be deposited in the Libraries of both Houses.

HOUSING, COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Building Safety Monthly Update

Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

(Robert Jenrick): [HCWS842]

I have undertaken to provide the House with a monthly building safety update.

On 10 February I announced my five point plan to bring an end to unsafe cladding:

1. Government will pay for the removal of unsafe cladding for leaseholders in all

residential buildings 18 metres and over (6 storeys) in England

2. Generous finance scheme to provide reassurance for leaseholders in buildings

between 11 and 18 metres (4 to 6 storeys), ensuring they never pay more than £50

a month for cladding removal

3. An industry levy and tax to ensure developers play their part

4. A world-class new safety regime to ensure a tragedy like Grenfell never happens

again

5. Providing confidence to this part of the housing market including lenders and

surveyors

We have committed an unprecedented £5 billion investment in building safety. This will

ensure taxpayer funding is targeted at the highest risk buildings in line with longstanding

independent expert advice.

https://iiekms.org.uk/

https://iiekms.org.uk/

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/independent-investigation-into-east-kent-maternity-services-terms-of-reference




Remediation statistics

Today we have published the February 2021 data release on the remediation of unsafe

cladding and the monthly Building Safety Fund Registration Statistics.

These data releases show we are continuing to make good progress on the remediation

of unsafe cladding, with around 95% of all high-rise buildings with unsafe ACM cladding

identified by the beginning of last year now either remediated or started on site. 100% of

social sector buildings and 84% of private sector buildings have now started or completed

remediation. Overall, 74% of all identified buildings have removed their ACM cladding, an

increase of 17 since the end of January.

Our expectation is that unsafe ACM remediation should be completed as soon as

possible and by the end of 2021 at the latest. Full details of our progress with cladding

remediation can be found in the Department’s monthly Building Safety Data Release,

which can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/building-

safety-programme-monthly-data-release-february-2021

As at 11 March 2021, the Building Safety Fund Registration Statistics show that 978

decisions have been made on the basis that sufficient supporting information has now

been received. Of these, 624 registered buildings are proceeding with a full application

and 354 have been shown to be ineligible. The total amount of funding allocated is

£226.8 million (including social sector) correct at 05/03/2021. Full details can be

accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/remediation-of-non-acm-buildings#building-

safety-fund-registration-statistics

Enforcement

I am also today informing the House of a change to the contingent liability for the

provision of an indemnity for the Joint Inspection Team (JIT), as was previously set out in

my Department’s statements and associated Departmental Minutes of 11 December

2018 (Hansard reference: HCWS1169 ) and of 25 June 2019 (Hansard reference:

HCWS1654 ).

The purpose of the JIT has been to provide support to local authorities in making hazard

assessments of high-rise residential buildings with unsafe aluminium composite material

cladding and then to provide advice to local authorities on enforcement action. The

change extends the cover provided by the indemnity to advice to local authorities on high-

rise residential buildings with all other types of unsafe cladding too.

I am laying a Departmental Minute providing further detail of the change to the contingent

liability.

Commercial Property Update

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for rough sleeping and housing (Eddie

Hughes): [HCWS844]

I am today informing the House that I have laid a Statutory Instrument that will extend the

moratorium on commercial landlords’ right to forfeiture for the non-payment of rent

(Section 82 Coronavirus Act 2020). The moratorium that was due to expire on 31 March

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/building-safety-programme-monthly-data-release-february-2021



https://www.gov.uk/guidance/remediation-of-non-acm-buildings#building-safety-fund-registration-statistics



https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2018-12-11/HCWS1169





2021 has been extended via Statutory Instrument by three months and will now expire on

30 June 2021; protecting businesses from eviction. This will protect employment as

businesses reopen and many more individuals, including renters, can return to work.

In addition, the Ministry of Justice will also lay a Statutory Instrument to extend the

restriction on the use of the commercial rent arrears process by landlords. This measure

will increase the total number of days’ outstanding rent required for the commercial rent

arrears process to be used to 457 days’ between 25 March and 23 June, and 554 days’

between 24 and 30 June. This measure will continue to provide protection to tenants of

commercial leases with rent arrears accumulated during the coronavirus period, while

protections from forfeiture for business tenancies are in place under the Coronavirus Act

2020.

Accompanying restrictions on the service of statutory demands and winding-up petitions,

implemented through the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020, are currently

in place until 31 March. We are conscious of the impact of those measures not remaining

in place while others are extended; the Government is therefore considering the future of

these measures in light of what has been announced today.

The Government had previously announced that the previous extension until 31 March

2021 would be the final extension to these measures. However, this was before the

discovery of the new UK variant of COVID-19 and the national restrictions announced by

the Prime Minister on 4 January 2021. These restrictions have prevented many tenant

businesses from being able to trade normally and have undermined negotiations

regarding rent arrears and ongoing lease terms because tenants have lacked certainty

regarding when they may be able to resume trading. This has necessitated the

introduction of a further extension to give time for the current national restrictions to be

relaxed and for tenants to be able to negotiate with their landlords with some certainty

over their ability to trade and so pay rent and accumulated rent arrears, given some

businesses will only reopen in June at the earliest under the Prime Minister’s roadmap.

We are aware of concerns that some tenants who could pay rent are refusing to do so,

and of the potential impact of this on the commercial landlord and investment sectors;

and on specific sectors who receive much of their income via rent including the ports

sector.

However, Government is clear that this measure is not a rent holiday: where a tenant is

unable to pay in full, landlords and tenants should be coming together to negotiate in

good faith, using the principles set out in the voluntary Code of Practice we published in

June. This recommends that those tenants who can pay in full should do so, those who

cannot should pay what they can and those landlords who are able to grant concessions

should do so. This Code of Practice and approach was supported by a wide range of

sector bodies representing tenants and landlords. The Government will be publishing

further guidance to support this Code and help facilitate negotiations between landlords

and tenants shortly.

Beyond this point, the Government’s current position is to support landlords and tenants

to agree their own arrangements for paying or writing off commercial rent debts by 30

June. This is supported by the Code of Conduct published by the Government last year,

setting out best practice for these negotiations. But, if these discussions do not happen

and there remains a significant risk to jobs, the Government is also prepared to take

further steps.

We will therefore launch shortly a Call for Evidence on commercial rents to help monitor

the overall progress of negotiations between tenants and landlords. The Call for Evidence

will also set out potential steps that Government could take after 30 June, ranging from a

phased withdrawal of current protections to legislative options targeted at those

businesses most impacted by COVID-19. We would welcome a broad range of feedback

to this Call for Evidence.

England, Northern Ireland and Wales are covered by the protection from forfeiture

provisions in the Coronavirus Act. Section 82 relates to England and Wales, and the

Welsh Government has announced an extension until 30 June 2021. Section 83 relates

to Northern Ireland, who are also considering a similar extension. The Scottish

Government shall be implementing similar measures under their separate legislation.

If a member has any further enquiries by giving notice of a Parliamentary Question or by

otherwise raising the matter in Parliament, the Department will be happy to provide a

response.

Residential Property Update

Minister of State for Housing (Christopher Pincher): [HCWS843]

I wish to update the House on the measures taken to support renters following the Prime

Minister’s announcement of the roadmap for national restrictions in England.

To support renters as we move towards the lifting of most restrictions in June, the

Government announced yesterday that we will extend the ban on bailiff enforcement of

evictions and the requirement for landlords to provide six months’ notice when seeking

possession of residential property. These measures will be extended to 31 May, to

continue to protect public health and minimise the effect on essential public services.

Exemptions will continue to apply to both of these measures in the most serious

circumstances.

Ensuring that renters remain protected until the end of May, whilst national restrictions

remain in place, will align with the Government’s broader strategy for protecting public

health and will continue to help reduce pressure on essential public services as we start

to move out of lockdown.

The ban on bailiff enforcement

Legislation will be brought forward shortly to continue to prevent bailiffs from attending

residential premises to enforce a writ or warrant of possession except in the most

egregious circumstances.

I am grateful to landlords for their continued forbearance during this unprecedented time.

It will remain important for landlords to be able to advance cases in the most serious

circumstances, and therefore exemptions will remain for:


• cases where the court is satisfied that the claim is against trespassers who are

persons unknown;

• cases where the court is satisfied that the order for possession was made wholly or

partly on the grounds of anti-social behaviour, nuisance or false statements,

domestic abuse in social tenancies or substantial rent arrears at least equivalent to

six month's rent; or

• where the property is unoccupied and the court is satisfied that the order for

possession was made wholly or partly on the grounds of death of the tenant.

These measures only apply to England and they are expected to end on 31 May 2021, as

we transition out of emergency measures, subject to public health advice and progress of

the national Roadmap.

Longer notice periods

A landlord seeking to recover possession of residential property must give notice to the

tenant before they start court proceedings. We know that many tenants will leave

accommodation at the end of their notice period, before the case reaches court. The

Government laid yesterday a Statutory Instrument to extend measures in the Coronavirus

Act 2020 that require landlords to provide tenants with six months’ notice, except in the

most serious circumstances. The Statutory Instrument applies to England only.

This means that most renters served notice during April and May will be able to stay in

their homes until October and November, giving them time to find support or alternative

accommodation.

Shorter notice periods will continue to apply for egregious cases, recognising the

continuing effect these circumstances have on landlords and the broader community.

These cases include anti-social behaviour (including rioting), false statement, in certain

cases of domestic abuse in the social sector, rent arrears over six months, where the

tenant has passed away or where the tenant does not have the right to rent under

immigration law. This approach provides balance for both landlords and tenants during

the ongoing risk of COVID-19, by continuing to provide tenants with enhanced protections

whilst allowing landlords access to justice quicker where proportionate.

The Government will consider the best approach to tapering down notice periods from 1

June, taking into account public health requirements, progress with the roadmap and the

longer-term transition into our broader programme of reform.

Guidance and wider support measures

We will update our COVID renting guidance for landlords, tenants and local authorities to

ensure it reflects the latest information. We will also update our guidance to support

landlords and tenants in the social and private rented sectors navigate the possessions

process.

The Chancellor has also confirmed that financial support will remain in place, continuing

to support renters in paying their living costs. This will include the support for businesses

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-and-renting-guidance-for-landlords-tenants-and-local-authorities/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-landlords-and-tenants

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-and-renting-guidance-for-landlords-tenants-and-local-authorities/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-landlords-and-tenants

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/understanding-the-possession-action-process-guidance-for-landlords-and-tenants.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/understanding-the-possession-action-process-guidance-for-landlords-and-tenants.

to pay staff salaries through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the boost to

Universal Credit, both of which have been extended until September 2021.

PARLIAMENTARY WORKS SPONSOR BODY

Strategic Review of the Restoration and Renewal Programme: publication

The Parliamentary Works Sponsor Body Spokesperson (Damian Hinds):

[HCWS839]

In May 2020 the Sponsor Body established a Strategic Review of the Restoration and

Renewal Programme.

The purpose of the review was to consider whether anything had changed so significantly

as to warrant a change in the strategy for the Restoration and Renewal Programme.

Such reviews are a pillar of established best practice for major projects.

The Sponsor Body invited views from Members, Members' staff, parliamentary staff and

members of the public. The Sponsor Body also consulted with the Commissions of both

Houses, as well as relevant Parliamentary Committees on the draft Strategic Review

recommendations.

The Sponsor Body's Strategic Review was completed in late 2020 and in the early part of

2021 has been going through a period of engagement with the Commissions of both

Houses of Parliament. It has been published today.

The review has considered all the evidence available, including previous investigations

and reports and new evidence from surveys and submissions to the review. It

recommends new approaches to completing the restoration while minimising costs - and

provides a clear direction for the next stages of the work.

The review recommends the adoption of a set of 'essential' and 'stretch' objectives, to be

endorsed by the Commissions of both Houses. The essential objectives will form the core

deliverables for the Programme, to inform a "do essential" option in the detailed and

costed restoration and renewal plan. The stretch objectives will offer greater ambition.

The review found that by approaching the restoration in a new way, with a phased

approach to the delivery of the works to the Palace of Westminster, the time Members

and staff would spend in temporary accomodation could be kept to a minimum. Whilst the

detailed and costed restoration and renewal plan will set out specific timescales, the

period during which works are taking place in the Palace of Westminster should be

thought of in terms of years and not months.

The review found that Parliament's northern estate, within the secure perimeter, is the

best place for temporarily locating MPs. Specific plans for these arrangements will be

drawn up in collaboration with Parliament's in-house team, respecting recent decisions

from the House of Commons Commission regarding the sequencing of works on the

northern estate and in line with the developing parliamentary masterplan.



Members of the House of Lords will be located in temporary accomodation at the QEII

Conference Centre and proposals for this will have at their heart an objective to minimise

costs.

The full text and recommendations of the strategic review can be viewed on the

Restoration and Renewal website:

www.restorationandrenewal.uk/resources/reports/strategic-review

The public want to see this UNESCO World Heritage site, in which they have told us they

take great pride, protected from damage and decay and at the same time want to see

that money is spent well. Restoring Parliament will create thousands of jobs and

apprenticeships in towns, cities and communities across the UK, from engineering and

high-tech design to traditional crafts such as carpentry and stonemasonry.

The detailed and costed restoration and renewal plan will be focused on delivering value

for money and will be informed by around 100 surveys and investigations of the Palace of

Westminster.

The review sets out clear proposed objectives for the restoration and the need for clearer

governance and closer working with Parliament. Supported by the Delivery Authority, the

Sponsor Body will continue to develop the detailed and costed restoration and renewal

plan that will for the first time give an accurate sense of the costs, timescales and full

detail of the work needed. The detailed and costed restoration and renewal plan will be

put before both Houses for a decision before the Parliamentary building works can

commence.

daily report thursday, 11 march 2021 contents

Documents